Shaun Ellis life and biography

MeShaunda "Shaun" Pizarrur Ellis is an American football defensive end for the New York Jets who was drafted in the first round (12th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He is also known by the nickname Big Katt.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Longest tenured member of the Jets, entering his 11th season with the club after being selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft.
◊ Has amassed career totals of 622 tackles, 68 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in his 10-year career.
◊ Moved past Marty Lyons (147 games, 1979-89) for the most games played by a New York Jet defensive lineman after playing in 155 of a possible 160 games in his 10-year career.
◊ With his 6.5 sacks in 2009 (68 career sacks), he has moved past Gerry Philbin (64.5) into third place on all-time New York Jets career sacks list, behind second-place Joe Klecko (77.5) and first-place Mark Gastineau (107.5).
◊ Along with Gastineau, Dennis Byrd and Hugh Douglas, became just the fourth player in Jets history to record two- or-more sacks in three-or-more games in a single season when he did so in 2009.
◊ Has 11 games with at least two sacks in career, including a career-high three sacks in the 2004 season finale.
◊ Earned his second Pro Bowl appearance in 2009, after recording 56 tackles (30 solo), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes defensed.

2009 (JETS) Despite missing the first game of the season, was selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl team as a replacement after leading all Jets defensive lineman in sacks (6.5), forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (two), while finishing second behind Sione Pouha with 56 tackles (30 solo)…His 6.5 sacks placed second on the team behind Calvin Pace’s 8.0 and his 18 quarterback hits led all Jets defensive players…Joined Mark Gastineau, Dennis Byrd and Hugh Douglas as just the fourth player in Jets history to record two-or-more sacks in three-or-more games in a single season. POSTSEASON: Started all three postseason games for the Jets, recording six tackles (four solo) and one sack. (Wild Card: 1/9 at CIN)…Sealed the Jets first playoff win since 2004 when he dropped Carson Palmer for a 10-yard loss on a fourth-and-22 late in the fourth quarter…Recorded five tackles (four solo) and recovered a fumble from former teammate Laveranues Coles deep inside Jets territory to prevent a CIN score on the game’s opening possession. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (1/3 vs. CIN)…Named game captain. (12/27 at IND)…Finished with five tackles (one solo), including combining for a critical stop of Donald Brown on third-and-one to force an IND punt. (12/20 vs. ATL)…Named game captain. (12/13 at TB)…Recorded six tackles (two solo) and forced a fumble from Derrick Ward. (12/3 at BUF)…Became just the fourth player in Jets history to record at least two sacks in three-or-more games in a single season when he sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick twice in the Thursday night win…The second sack was a loss of 10 yards on the final BUF drive that ended with a Darrelle Revis interception one play later to preserve a six-point win…Received game ball for his efforts. (11/22 at NE)…Recorded his second multi-sack performance of the season as he brought down Tom Brady twice…Forced a fumble on the first sack, a loss of six yards on third-down that led to a Jets blocked punt touchdown…That first sack was the 65th of his career, moving him past Gerry Philbin (64.5) for third place on the New York Jets all-time list…Named game captain. (11/1 vs. MIA)…Dropped Chad Henne twice for a pair of seven-yard losses, once in the third quarter to force a punt and again in the fourth quarter…Recorded three tackles (all solo). (10/25 at OAK)…Notched three tackles (one solo) and returned a lateral from Mike DeVito for one yard as the Jets recorded their first shutout of the season. (10/18 vs. BUF)…Recorded a season-high eight tackles (four solo). (9/27 vs. TEN)…Helped teammate Bryan Thomas bring down Kerry Collins for a three-yard loss to help hold TEN to a field goal on a drive late in the second quarter…Finished the game with three tackles (all solo). (9/20 vs. NE)…Returned to action after missing one game to record four tackles (one solo) as the Jets held NE without a touchdown…Named game captain.

2008 (JETS) Started all 16 games…Recorded 66 tackles, the second highest total of his career and the most since he had 109 in 2003…Finished the season with six tackles-for-loss, eight sacks (eighth in AFC) and two forced fumbles…Named Jets Defensive Player of the Game twice during the season…Recorded at least one sack in six of the season’s first seven games. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/14 vs. BUF)…With the Jets down 27-24 with 2:06 remaining in regulation, Ellis recovered an Abram Elam forced fumble and returned it 11 yards for his first-career touchdown, giving the Jets a 31-27 lead…Tied for the team lead and recorded a season-high 10 tackles (five solo)…Named Jets Defensive Player of the Game. (12/7 at SF)…Notched eighth sack of the season with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, taking down Shaun Hill. (11/2 at BUF)…Continued his sack streak, sharing a sack with C.J. Mosley of Trent Edwards with 11:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. (10/26 vs. KC)…Recorded one-and-a-half sacks of Tyler Thigpen… Notched at least one sack in six of the first seven games. (10/19 at OAK)…Sacked Jamarcus Russell for a seven-yard loss. (10/12 vs. CIN)…Recorded a sack of Ryan Fitzpatrick for a four-yard loss with :06 remaining in the fourth quarter…Named Jets Defensive Player of the Game. (9/28 vs. ARI)…Registered a sack and a forced fumble when dropped Kurt Warner for a loss of 23 yards. (9/14 vs. NE)…Sacked Matt Cassel for no gain. (9/7 at MIA)…Notched a sack of former teammate Chad Pennington for a four-yard loss in his first game vs. Pennington after eight seasons as a teammate.

2007 (JETS) Recorded 60 tackles, five sacks, a fumble recovery and a fumble forced for the season…Started all 16 games, including one game as an outside linebacker vs. CLV (12/19)…Selected as a defensive captain by his teammates. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/16 at NE)…Recorded a six-yard sack of Tom Brady, the 53.5th of his career, which passed Mo Lewis and tied John Abraham for fourth place in franchise history. (11/18 vs. PIT)…Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for first time in his career and was also named Jets Defensive Player of the Week for recording three tackles (one solo) and two sacks of Ben Roethlisberger in the overtime victory…On one of the sacks, he forced and recovered a fumble and returned it six yards. (11/4 vs. WAS)…Recorded a season-high nine tackles with a season-high five solos. (9/30 at BUF)…Registered six tackles (two solo) and brought down Trent Edwards for a loss of seven yards. (9/23 vs. MIA)…Forced a punt on a third-and-three when he sacked Trent Green for a loss of six yards…Added two tackles (both solo).

2006 (JETS) Started all 16 games and recorded 58 tackles, five sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble as he transitioned from the 4-3 defense of Coach Herman Edwards to the 3-4 scheme installed by new Head Coach Eric Mangini. POSTSEASON: (1/7 at NE). ... Recorded seven tackles (five solo) in the AFC Wild Card Game. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/31 vs. OAK)…Named Jets’ Defensive Player of the Week after tallying a season-high seven tackles in the season-finale win that clinched a return to the postseason for the first time since 2004. (12/3 at GB)…Split a sack with Bryan Thomas as the two combined to bring down Brett Favre…Added six tackles (four solo) in the win. (11/26 vs. HOU)…Recorded five tackles (three solo) and one-and-a-half sacks of David Carr…Combined with Dewayne Robertson to record the first sack of the game. (11/12 at NE)…Named Jets’ Defensive Player of the Week after collecting five tackles and sacking Tom Brady…On the sack, he forced a Brady fumble to seal the win on the last play of the game. (10/1 vs. IND)…Dropped Peyton Manning for losses of 12 and 13 yards…Registered five tackles (all solo) as well.

2005 (JETS) Started the first 13 games of the season before missing the last three…Those final three games marked the first time in his career that he has missed consecutive games…Posted career lows in tackles (48) and sacks (2.5) as he battled through an injury. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (10/16 at BUF)…Recorded seven tackles (four solo), one pressure and a sack of eight yards on Kelly Holcomb. (10/9 vs. TB)…Teamed with Dewayne Robertson to drop Brian Griese for an 11 yard loss…Posted four tackles (two solo). (9/18 vs. MIA)…Registered two tackles (both solo) and stripped the ball from Gus Frerotte after sacking him for a two-yard loss.

2004 (JETS) Started 15 games and both postseason contests…Recorded 64 regular season tackles and 11 sacks, with 6.5 of those sacks in the month of December. POSTSEASON: (1/15 at PIT)…Recorded two tackles (both solo). (1/8 at SD)…Finished the Jets’ 20-17 OT Wild Card victory with eight tackles (all solo) and one pressure. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (1/2 at SL)…Registered a career-high three sacks of Marc Bulger. (12/19 vs. SEA)… Recorded two sacks of Matt Hasselbeck…Forced a fumble on one of those sacks, which was recovered by Seattle guard Steve Hutchinson, who was then stripped by Eric Barton…Barton recovered to set up a fourth quarter touchdown. (12/12 at PIT)…Notched six tackles (all solo) and one-and-a-half sacks on Ben Roethlisberger, splitting the second with Dewayne Robertson. (11/28 at ARZ)…Finished with four tackles (two solo) and seven-yard sack of Shaun King. (11/14 vs. BLT)…Inactive for the first time in his career, ending a streak of 70 consecutive regular-season games he had appeared in from the start of his career. (10/24 at NE)…Brought down Tom Brady twice, combining with John Abraham for one…Also recorded five tackles (four solo). (10/17 vs. SF)…In addition to his five tackles (four solo), dropped Tim Rattay twice, once with teammate John Abraham and again to force a fumble. (9/19 at SD)…Recorded five tackles (one solo) and one-half sack as he joined teammate Dewayne Robertson to sack Drew Brees.

2003 (JETS) Earned a Pro Bowl spot when he finished third in the AFC with a career-high 12.5 sacks, becoming the 12th player in franchise history to record 10-or-more sacks in a season. ... Posted at least one-half sack in each of the season’s first eight games…Also posted a career-high 109 tackles (64 solo) on the year, including five games of at least 10 tackles. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/28 at MIA)…Capped a career high 12.5 sack season when he combined once with Josh Evans and again with Jason Ferguson to bring down Jay Fielder. (12/7 at BUF)…Registered his fifth game of the season with at least 10 tackles en route to setting a career-high with 109 for the season. (11/23 at JAX)…Brought down Byron Leftwich with a sack of zero yards. (11/16 at IND)…Registered a sack of Peyton Manning, bring the QB down for a loss of eight yards. (11/2 vs. NYG)…Split a sack with Dewayne Robertson of Kerry Collins. (10/26 at PHI)…Dropped Donovan McNabb for a one-yard sack. (10/19 at HOU)…In addition to posting his fourth game of the season with 10-or-more tackles, he recorded a sack of David Carr, dropping the QB for a seven-yard loss. (10/12 vs. BUF)…Earned a game ball on defense for his efforts as he brought down Drew Bledsoe twice for a total of 13 yards. (9/28 vs. DAL)…Added a six-yard sack of Quincy Carter to his six tackles (five solo). (9/21 at NE)…Matched his career-high with 12 tackles and sacked Tom Brady once for a three-yard loss. (9/14 vs. MIA)…Established a new career-high with 12 tackles (seven solo)…Dropped Jay Fielder for a one-yard sack, jarring loose a ball that was recovered by Chester McGlockton and set up the Jets’ first touchdown. (9/4 at WAS)…Foreshadowed what would become a career year when he recorded the first double-digit tackle game of his career and added two sacks of Patrick Ramsey in season opener.

2002 (JETS) Started all 16 games, recording 49 tackles, four sacks, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble…Recorded 3.5 of his four sacks in the season’s finale five games, closing the regular season with sacks in three consecutive games. POSTSEASON: Had a total of eight tackles (all solo) in the two playoff games. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/29 vs. GB)…Part of defensive effort that keyed a 25-point division-clinching win…Brought down Brett Favre for a seven-yard loss. (12/22 at NE)…Joined with teammate John Abraham to split a sack of Tom Brady. (12/15 at CHI)…Dropped Chris Chandler for a three-yard sack. (12/2 at OAK)…Posted a season-high six tackles (five solo) in the Monday Night loss…Sacked Rich Gannon for a seven-yard loss. (9/8 at BUF)…Split a sack of Drew Bledsoe with Jason Ferguson in the season opener.

2001 (JETS) Played in all 16 games, starting 15…Injury in pre-game stretch against MIA, 10/14, prevented him from starting…Recorded 59 tackles (36 solo) and five sacks in the regular season…Added three more tackles in his postseason debut…Made start at defensive tackle in the season opener before starting at defensive end for 14 of the last 15 games. POSTSEASON: (1/12 at OAK)…Recorded three tackles (one solo) in his postseason debut. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/9 at PIT)…Collected a season-high eight tackles (five solo) in addition to dropping Kordell Stewart for a three-yard sack. (12/2 vs. NE)…Deflected a pass and brought down Tom Brady for a loss of seven yards. (11/11 vs. KC)…Split a sack with John Abraham as the two combined to take down Trent Green for an 11-yard loss. (11/4 at NO)…Recorded a three-yard sack of Aaron Brooks that forced a punt late in the third quarter of the Sunday Night win. (10/14 vs. MIA)…Notched one-and-a-half sacks on Jay Fielder while also deflecting a pass…Split the first sack with Steve Martin…Forced a Lamar Smith fumble that was scooped up by Marvin Jones before Curtis Martin scored from 27 yards out on the next play.

2000 (JETS) Led all defensive lineman with 8.5 sacks, despite starting just two games…His 8.5 sacks as a rookie placed him behind only Hugh Douglas (10) for the most sacks ever by a New York Jets rookie…Finished his rookie season with 53 tackles, three passes defensed and his only career interception. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/17 vs. DET)…Started his first-career game and recorded a season-high nine tackles (seven solo) to go with a pair of sacks of Charlie Batch. (12/10 at OAK)…Split a sack of Rich Gannon with teammate Bryan Cox. (11/19 at MIA)…Dropped Damon Huard for a six-yard loss and intercepted his first-career pass. (10/23 vs. MIA)…Helped force overtime in the Monday Night contest when he sacked running back Thurman Thomas on the final MIA drive of regulation. (10/15 at NE)…Dropped Drew Bledsoe for the third time in just over a month when he recorded a three-yard sack. (9/11 vs. NE)…Recorded the first multi-sack game of his career by bringing down Drew Bledsoe twice, first for an eight-yard loss then for a loss of six. (9/3 at GB)…In his first-career NFL game, dropped Brett Favre for a three- yard loss forcing a fumble…Also recovered an Ahman Green fumble that was triggered by Rick Lyle.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Finished his collegiate career at Tennessee with 105 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
◊ Lone collegiate interception, vs. Auburn in 1998, he returned 90 yards for a touchdown.
◊ Was selected All-SEC first-team as a senior, where he started every game at left end, recorded 42 tackles, a team-high 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss. ... Also had a pass breakup and two fumble recoveries.
◊ Ranked among the nation’s top 100 prospects by Scholastic Coach Magazine, adding All-State honors twice and All-Region accolades three times at Westside (SC) HS.
◊ Recorded 174 tackles and 35 sacks during his senior campaign, and helped lead his school to a 12-2 record and the state semifinals.
◊ Also earned All-State honors in basketball at Westside.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Nicknamed “Big Katt.”
◊ Wife, Cecile, daughter, Keshona and two sons, Jordan and Skyler.
◊ Teamed up with The Muscular Dystrophy Association “Muscle Team” for seven seasons…Ellis has worked closely with the MDA during his tenure in NY, and has hosted children afflicted with the illness at the Jets’ training camps and regular-season games.

Read more