Greg Ellis

PRO: Since becoming a first round draft choice in 1998, Greg Ellis has brought dependability, durability, quality character and intelligence to the Dallas defensive line on a consistent basis. He has started 121 of a potential 128 games during his career, and has missed just four games due to injury in eight years. Ellis has led the team, or tied for the team lead, in sacks in each of the past five seasons - tying Jethro Pugh's club record for consecutive seasons leading the team in sacks. Pugh accomplished that feat from 1968- 72. Overall he has led the Cowboys in sacks six times - one season short of Harvey Martin's team record of seven seasons. Ellis has also led all Cowboys defensive linemen in tackles six times. His career totals include 52 sacks, 170 quarterback pressures and 46 deflected passes. From day one, Ellis was able to overcome the pressure and expectations of being the Cowboys highest draft pick (eighth overall) since Russell Maryland (first overall in 1991) - as well as the physical demands of returning from a major injury in 2000 - to rise to the top of his profession and become one of the game's top all-around defensive ends. Having had his 1999 season cut short when he fractured the tibia and fibula in his left leg, Ellis fought through the pain and rehabilitation that accompanied having a titanium rod inserted into his leg. By the end of the 2000 season, he had re-emerged as one of the top defensive ends in the game, proving his worth to the club both on and off the field. On the field, he led the club's defensive linemen with a then career-high 77 tackles, and off the field, he was named by teammates as the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for overcoming his injuries. Ellis has continued to firmly establish himself as one of the team's true leaders with a level of consistency and production that showcases his versatility and toughness. The seasoned veteran made a smooth transition from the 4-3 alignment to the 3-4 in 2005 and was again the team leader in sacks. Selected as a team captain by his teammates in 2005, Ellis efficiently produces the type of all-around game that makes him one of the league's most complete linemen.

2005: Even with the move to the 3-4 defense for the first time in Cowboys history, Greg Ellis enjoyed another productive season - tying with rookie linebacker DeMarcus Ware for the team lead in sacks with eight - while leading the team in quarterback pressures with 21. He registered at least a half a sack in nine of Dallas's 16 games, while tying for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two. Ellis has now led the team in sacks in each of the past five seasons. Ellis and Ware finished the season tied for 11th in the NFC in sacks. He also led all Dallas defensive linemen in passes knocked down with five (fifth on the team). In the season opener at San Diego (9/11), Ellis collected half a sack and a season-high four quarterback pressures in his transition to the three-man front. He added another half sack in the home opening loss to Washington (9/19). In the win at San Francisco (9/25), Ellis extended his streak of games with at least a half sack to three as he collected a full sack and three quarterback pressures. In the win over Philadelphia (10/9), Ellis had one quarterback pressure and shared a sack with rookie Jay Ratliff. Ellis played a key role in helping the defense limit the Eagles to 129 total yards, including just 19 on the ground - the fourth lowest rushing total allowed by Dallas in club history. In the overtime win over the N.Y. Giants (10/16), he recorded three quarterback pressures and a sack, as Eli Manning went 14-for-30 (46.7%) passing. Ellis scooped up a Manning fumble at the Dallas 30-yard line in the fourth quarter and returned it 37 yards to set up the Cowboys final field goal in regulation. In the last-minute loss at Seattle (10/23), Ellis was second on the team - and tops among linemen - with a season-high six tackles. He also had a tackle for a loss and batted down a pass. Dallas limited the Seahawks offense - ranked first in the NFL entering the game - to 289 yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL's leading rusher at 119 yards-per-game (5.5 avg.), was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 avg.). In the win over Arizona (10/30), Ellis recorded his only multi-sack game of the season with 1.5 sacks, two tackles, three quarterback pressures and a deflected pass as the defense limited the Cardinals to 213 total yards. His first sack ended the Cardinals opening drive at the Dallas 34-yard line and limited them to a field goal. In the Monday night win at Philadelphia (11/14), Ellis recorded his sixth sack of the year - and the 50th of his career - and forced a fumble on the play (recovered by Philadelphia) when he brought down Donovan McNabb on third-and-15 with 2:27 remaining in the game and Dallas clinging to a 21-20 lead. In the following week's win over Detroit (11/20), Ellis recorded his seventh sack of the season and forced a fumble on the play that was recovered by Dat Nguyen with 4:17 remaining in the game to seal the win. He led all linemen with three tackles as the Lions were limited to 226 total yards, including just 57 on the ground. In the Thanksgiving Day overtime loss to Denver (11/24), he recorded a sack in his fourth consecutive game, and his eighth of the season. Ellis also had two tackles, batted down a third down pass attempt and had a pressure. His second tackle of the Broncos game was the 500th of his career. In the loss at the N.Y. Giants (12/4), he recorded two tackles as the Giants were limited to one offensive touchdown and 150 net passing yards. Ellis did not start the game in New York for the first time in his career, ending a string of 121 consecutive starts. He also had a four-game sack streak stopped against the Giants although he had three quarterback pressures. He saw limited action in the following two games against Kansas City (12/11) and at Washington (12/18) before returning to the starting lineup at Carolina (12/24). In the Cowboys last-minute win over the Panthers, Ellis was third on the team, tops among linemen, with a season-high tying six tackles. He also recovered a Jake Delhomme fumble following a sack that got Dallas the ball back just before halftime. He remained in the starting lineup for the season's final game against St. Louis (1/1/06), recording two tackles along with a tackle for a loss and a batted down a pass.

2004: Ellis enjoyed the finest season of his seven-year career, turning in career-high numbers for sacks (nine) and tipped passes (12) while registering his third best season for pressures (22). His sack total led the team for the fourth consecutive season. His sack total for 2004 was 12th best in the NFC and 10th best among NFC defensive ends. By knocking down 12 passes at the line of scrimmage, he finished second only to cornerback Terence Newman (13) in that category. It was the second best total in the NFL among defensive linemen (Jason Taylor, Miami - 15) and the highest number by a Dallas defensive lineman since Ed ?Too Tall Jones had 14 in 1988. Ellis registered a sack in seven-of-16 games in 2004, including three multi-sack games, and he led all Dallas defensive linemen on the year in tackles with 63. In the home opening win over Cleveland (9/19), Ellis had one of the most dominant games of his career. He led the entire defense in tackles with seven while adding five pressures (one of which led to a safety), one sack and a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. He continued his productive ways the following week at Washington (9/27), turning in his first multi-sack game of the year with a pair of sacks of Mark Brunell. Ellis kept up his torrid pace in the loss to the N.Y. Giants (10/10), posting another two-sack game to go along with six tackles, four pressures and two tipped passes. In the loss to Pittsburgh (10/17), he picked up his sixth sack of the year. At Green Bay (10/24), Ellis's streak of four straight games with at least one sack was snapped by the Packers - who allowed just 12 sacks of Brett Favre all season. Ellis did manage two tackles and knocked down a Favre pass. In the loss at Cincinnati (11/7), Ellis led all Dallas defensive linemen with six tackles and batted down his fifth pass of the season. He put together another solid Monday Night Football performance against Philadelphia (11/15), registering seven tackles, assisting on a sack and batting down a pass. Ellis knocked down two passes and had five tackles - including one behind the line - in the loss at Baltimore (11/21). In the Thanksgiving Day victory over Chicago (11/25), he tied for second on the team with five tackles while posting 1.5 sacks and two pressures. He registered two stops, a pressure and his career-best ninth pass deflection at Seattle (12/6). In the loss at Philadelphia (12/19), Ellis was at his playmaking best and had a hand in two of the team's most important plays in the near-upset of the NFC champions. He blocked an Eagles extra point and set up the Cowboys only touchdown with a sack and a forced fumble. For the day, Ellis had five tackles (one for lost yardage), a batted pass and three pressures. In the win over Washington (12/26), Ellis had another disruptive game with four tackles, a pair of quarterback pressures and two tipped passes.

2003: Ellis put together another productive season in helping the Dallas defense finish the year as the league's top ranked unit, surrendering only 253.5 yards-per-game - including just 89.1 yards on the ground (third in NFL) and 164.4 yards through the air (first in NFL). He led the team for the third straight year with 8.0 sacks, the most by a Cowboys defender since Tony Tolbert had 12.0 in 1996. Ellis finished with 48 tackles, 19 pressures, eight pass deflections, four tackles for losses and four forced fumbles. He kicked off the season by leading all linemen with six tackles while adding two pressures and a stop for a loss against the Falcons (9/7). In the Cowboys come-from-behind, overtime victory at the N.Y. Giants (9/15), he finished second on the team with five tackles, batted down a career-high three passes, posted four pressures and added half a sack. He also forced a Tiki Barber fumble and forced Kerry Collins into an interception that Al Singleton returned 41 yards for a touchdown. Ellis helped limit the N.Y. Jets (9/28) to 66 rushing yards on 26 carries (2.5 avg.) with two tackles. He then registered a tackle and a stop behind the line against Arizona (10/5) in helping hold the Cardinals to 151 total offensive yards. He recorded three tackles, a sack and a pass deflection against Philadelphia (10/12) before totaling two stops and two pressures at Detroit (10/19) in helping limit the Lions to 157 total yards. At Tampa Bay (10/26), he was third on the squad with six tackles while posting a sack that forced a fumble. Against Buffalo (11/9), he teamed with Eric Ogbogu on a sack of Drew Bledsoe, forcing a fumble on the play to end a potential Bills scoring drive. Ellis also added a tackle for a four-yard loss on a screen pass and had two pressures in helping limit the Bills to 185 total yards, including just 58 on seven second half possessions. He registered his fourth sack of the season at New England (11/16). Ellis recorded four stops against Miami (11/27) on Thanksgiving Day then tallied his fifth sack of the season at Philadelphia (12/7). Against the N.Y. Giants (12/21), he posted his first multi-sack game of the season (two), tied his season-high with four pressures and forced a fumble in helping limit the Giants to just 54 rushing yards on 22 carries (2.5 avg.). He finished the regular season at New Orleans (12/28) third on the team with a season-high seven stops while adding half a sack. Ellis's work against New Orleans helped limit Deuce McAllister - the NFC's second leading rusher - to just 49 yards on 21 carries (2.3 avg.). In the Cowboys wild card playoff loss at Carolina (1/3/04), Ellis led all defensive linemen with five tackles - including one for a loss - while recording the team's only sack.

2002: As the team has come to expect, Ellis led all linemen and was fourth on the team with a career-high 87 tackles, topping his previous best of 83 from the year before. He led the team and tied for 16th in the NFC with 7.5 sacks. He also led the team with a career-high 30 quarterback pressures, topping his previous best of 26 set in 2001. Ellis opened the season with a bang, recording at least half a sack in each of the first four games of the season. He led all defensive linemen with five tackles and three pressures at Houston (9/8). He also added half a sack and deflected a fourth quarter pass that La'Roi Glover intercepted. The following week against Tennessee (9/15), he posted a career-high tying two sacks and tied for the team lead among linemen with six tackles while leading the team with three quarterback pressures. Ellis had one of the most dominating games of his career pressuring the quarterback at Philadelphia (9/22), finishing with his second straight two-sack game, as well as a career-high tying six pressures. It was the first time a Cowboys player has posted back-to-back multiple-sack games since Tony Tolbert in Weeks 5-6 in 1996. At St. Louis (9/29), he recorded two of the biggest plays of the game. On the Rams final drive, Ellis recorded the club's only sack of the day on a third-and-three play at the Dallas 25-yard line. His six-yard sack forced the Rams to attempt a 49-yard field goal that hit the right upright, giving Dallas the ball for its game-winning field goal. In the first quarter, he ended a Rams drive with his second career interception, picking off a Kurt Warner pass. Dallas drove to its only touchdown of the day following the interception. Ellis finished the day with three tackles, a sack, two pressures and an interception. He then led all linemen with five tackles at the N.Y. Giants (10/6) but did not record a sack, ending his string of consecutive games with a sack at four. Against Carolina (10/13), he again led all linemen with eight tackles. For the third straight game, he was at the top of the linemen tackle totals with seven at Arizona (10/20). Ellis recorded five tackles while helping limit Shaun Alexander to a 2.5 yard-per-carry average on 23 carries (58 yards) against Seattle (10/27). He began experiencing headaches from a concussion suffered against Arizona following the Seattle game and was inactive at Detroit (11/3). He returned to the starting lineup at Indianapolis (11/17) and led all linemen with nine tackles. Against Jacksonville (11/24), he led the entire team with a season-high 10 tackles and recorded his first sack since Week Four. He also added five quarterback pressures and a tackle for a loss. Against San Francisco (12/8), Ellis tied for the team lead among defensive linemen with eight tackles while recording the club's only sack of the game. Ellis was again atop the line tackle chart with six stops at the N.Y. Giants (12/15). In the season finale at Washington (12/29), Ellis tied for the lead among linemen with five tackles.

2001: As a key contributor to the Cowboys dramatic turnaround on defense, Ellis led Dallas in sacks (six), quarterback pressures (26) and forced fumbles (four). While starting all 16 games at left end, he led all defensive linemen in tackles with 83 (fourth on the team), and he was third on the team in tackles for losses (seven for minus 12 yards). Ellis's efforts helped the Cowboys defense rank fourth in the NFL, allowing an average of just 287.4 yards-per-game. The Dallas pass defense closed the year third in the NFL - permitting just 180.6 yards-per-game. In 2001, Dallas allowed 1,710 rushing yards, a figure that was 927 fewer yards than the club allowed during the 2000 season. Those numbers represented the largest turnaround by any defensive unit in the NFL in 2001. In the season opening loss to Tampa Bay (9/9), Ellis led all Dallas defensive linemen with nine stops while posting one of Dallas's two sacks. Against San Diego (9/23), he recorded four tackles in helping limit LaDainian Tomlinson to a 3.3-yard average on 27 carries. The following week at Philadelphia (9/30), Ellis was extremely active, contributing a career-high six quarterback pressures and two pass deflections. In the Monday night win over Washington (10/15), Ellis recorded five tackles and his second sack of the year while helping limit the Redskins to 226 total yards. His biggest play of the game came with 2:39 remaining when he recovered a Stephen Davis fumble at the Cowboys 33-yard line to set Dallas up for its game-winning field goal drive. In the win over Arizona (10/28), he led all defensive linemen with seven tackles. He turned in another outstanding performance at the N.Y. Giants (11/4), leading all defensive linemen with eight tackles while also recording his third sack of the season and forcing a fumble on the play. In Atlanta (11/11), Ellis was second on the team in tackles with seven, and he turned in his first multi-sack game of the season with two, as the Falcons were limited to 201 total yards. In the loss to Philadelphia (11/18), Ellis led the team with three quarterback pressures, as the Eagles were limited to 227 total yards - 100 yards below their season average. On the ground, the Eagles averaged 2.8-yards-per-carry on 35 attempts. On Thanksgiving Day against Denver (11/22), Ellis led all defensive linemen with six tackles. At Washington (12/2), Ellis again led all Cowboys linemen in tackles with seven. Stephen Davis, the NFC's third leading rusher entering the game, was held to 53 yards on 17 carries. Ellis registered his sixth sack of the year in the win over the N.Y. Giants (12/9), while leading all defensive linemen with six tackles. His sack was a fourth quarter takedown of Kerry Collins that also forced a fumble. At Seattle (12/16), he suffered a sprained right knee mid-way through the first quarter but returned to action in the second quarter and recorded four tackles, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure while helping hold the Seahawks to 139 net passing yards. In the Cowboys upset win over playoff bound San Francisco (12/30), he registered three tackles, two quarterback pressures and recovered a fumble. Dallas limited the NFL's second ranked 49er running game (146 yards-per-game at the time) to 56 yards.

2000: After two years patrolling the left end of the Dallas defensive line, Ellis switched to the right side in 2000 to take pressure off his injured left leg. He went on to lead all defensive linemen with 77 tackles, while tying for the team lead with seven tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries. He also finished second on the team with 13 quarterback pressures. After working into camp slowly, Ellis returned to full action for the final two preseason games. In the season opener against Philadelphia (9/3), he led all defensive linemen with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss in his first regular season action since suffering the leg fracture. He recovered a fumble at Arizona (9/10), and then at Washington (9/18), he recorded his first sack of the season on the game's final play to preserve the Cowboys Monday night win. He also recovered a Redskins fumble in the second quarter to set up a Dallas touchdown. Ellis led all defensive linemen and was third on the team with a career-high 11 tackles against San Francisco (9/24). It was the highest tackle total by a Dallas defensive lineman since Chad Hennings recorded 11 stops against the N.Y. Giants on Dec. 21, 1997. Facing perennial All-Pro Tony Boselli, Ellis put together an admirable day against Jacksonville (10/29) with five tackles, a tackle for a loss and a pressure. He also forced Boselli into two illegal procedure penalties. On special teams, Ellis blocked his first career field goal, getting his hand on a 49-yard fourth quarter attempt by Mike Hollis. Ellis was second among defensive linemen with nine tackles, including two behind the line, at Philadelphia (11/5). His seven tackles against Cincinnati (11/12) led all defensive linemen, and he recorded his second sack of the season, as the Bengals were limited to 195 total yards. Ellis again led all defensive linemen in tackles and was third on the team with nine stops at Baltimore (11/19). With four tackles, a sack and two pressures against Washington (12/10), Ellis helped limit the Redskins to just 79 rushing yards on the day, a season low for the Dallas defense.

1999: Despite missing the final three regular season games because of a fractured left tibia and fibula, Ellis led the team with 7.5 sacks. Before the injury, he was eighth in the NFC in sacks and was also tied for the team lead with 17 quarterback pressures. He finished the season with 59 tackles, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Ellis set the tone for the season early, recording five tackles and a career-best two sacks at Washington (9/12) in the season opener. The first sack came with the Redskins at the Dallas four-yard line and forced a fumble that George Teague recovered to end a potential scoring drive. The second sack came on third-and-three on the Redskins opening possession in overtime and forced them to punt. Dallas then took the ball and drove 95-yards for the game-winning score. The next week on Monday Night Football, he recorded his first career interception and touchdown when he picked off a Danny Kanell pass and raced 87-yards for a score against Atlanta (9/20). It was the longest touchdown return of any kind by a defensive lineman in club history until the next game. He also led all defensive linemen with six tackles on the evening. Ellis closed out his season-opening burst of big plays against Arizona (10/3) by returning a Jake Plummer fumble 98 yards for a touchdown, the longest fumble return in Cowboys history. In doing so, he became the first Cowboys defensive player since Ray Horton in 1991 (vs. N.Y. Giants, 9/29 and at Green Bay, 10/6) to score a touchdown in back-to-back weeks. Ellis logged seven tackles and a sack in helping limit the N.Y. Giants (10/18) to 2.5 yards-per-carry. Ellis was third on the team, tops among linemen, with seven tackles at Indianapolis (10/31) while also adding a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. For the second time in 1999, Ellis recorded a career-high two sacks in a game while also leading all defensive linemen with five tackles at Minnesota (11/8). With three tackles and a team-high three quarterback pressures against Green Bay (11/14), he helped limit Favre to a 57.1 quarterback rating and the Packers to 40 rushing yards. Ellis then logged a season-high eight tackles at Arizona (11/21) to finish second on the team, while adding a sack and three quarterback pressures. On Thanksgiving Day against Miami (11/25), pressure from the defensive front was instrumental in forcing Dan Marino into a career-worst five interceptions. Ellis recorded his final sack of the season at New England (12/5) while adding four tackles, but his season came to an abrupt end the next week against Philadelphia (12/12) when he fractured the tibia and fibula in his left leg in the first quarter. He underwent surgery that night to have a titanium rod inserted into the leg and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 15.

1998: Ellis finished his rookie campaign leading the team with 22 quarterback pressures and all defensive linemen with 63 tackles. He also closed the year with five tackles for losses, five passes defensed and three sacks. Since tackle records began being kept in 1979, Ellis became the first Cowboys rookie to lead all defensive linemen on the team in tackles. This effort earned him All-Rookie honors from Football News and Football Digest. Against Arizona (9/6), he became the first rookie to start a season opener at defensive end for Dallas since Bob Lilly in 1961. He finished with two tackles and two pressures against the Cardinals. He forced his first career fumble in the fourth quarter at the N.Y. Giants (9/21) and helped limit the Giants to 56 rushing yards. He recorded his first career sack while adding three tackles against Oakland (9/27). He registered a season-high nine tackles and 1.5 sacks against Carolina (10/11) while helping limit the Panthers to 37 rushing yards on 21 carries (1.8 avg.). He had three tackles and helped limit the Bears to 2.5 yards-per-rush at Chicago (10/18). He recorded four tackles and half a sack against the Giants (11/8) before recording two tackles and two pressures while helping limit the Cardinals to 32 rushing yards at Arizona (11/15). Against Minnesota (11/26) on Thanksgiving Day, he led all defensive linemen with four tackles while adding two pressures and two passes defensed. He added six tackles and his first career fumble recovery at New Orleans (12/6). He led all defensive linemen with seven tackles and four pressures against Philadelphia (12/20). In his first postseason action, against Arizona (1/2/99), he led all defensive linemen with eight tackles.

COLLEGE: With 32.5 career sacks, Ellis left North Carolina as the school's all-time sack leader, the same school that produced NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. As a senior, Ellis earned All-America honors, was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and an All-ACC selection for the third straight season after collecting 87 tackles, nine sacks and 32 quarterback pressures. As a junior, Ellis was named second-team All-America by The Sporting News and first-team All-ACC after closing the season with 62 tackles, a school record 38 pressures and 12.5 sacks, the second most sacks in a season behind Taylor's 16 in 1979. In 1995, Ellis became the first Tar Heel sophomore to be named first-team All-ACC since Reuben Davis in 1985. Ellis was also named honorable mention All-America by UPI while recording 71 tackles and seven sacks. As a back-up defensive end during his redshirt freshman year, Ellis ranked second on the team with four sacks.

PERSONAL: Gregory Lemont Ellis was an all-state selection as a tight end and defensive end at East Wake High School in Wendell, N.C. During his high school career, he intercepted five passes and returned all of them for touchdowns. He also blocked four punts and returned two of them for scores. An outstanding basketball player, Ellis was selected to play in the North Carolina East/West Shrine Game. The Greensboro News and Observer voted him the Male High School Athlete of the Year in 1993. Ellis enjoys spending time with the children at Happy Hill Farm and supporting their program that houses and educates abused and neglected children. Annually, he provides season tickets for the children from Happy Hill Farm to attend Cowboys home football games. Ellis has also served as a celebrity model escort for the annual Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show, provided clothing and toys for needy children during the holidays for The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, served as honorary chairman for the Crossroads Interfaith Housing Program in 2001 & 2002 and served as a celebrity guest reader for the Cowboys 2001 and 2002 Kick Off To School Reading night events hosted at the club's training camp site. During the 2005 offseason, Ellis served as a guest speaker at the Exxon-Mobile Green Team Program dedication ceremony with Builders of Hope. The program provides paid summer jobs to area high school students while building two affordable homes in the Eagle Ford neighborhood. Ellis received his degree in communications studies at UNC, where he was also a member of the junior varsity basketball team as a sophomore. Ellis's wife, Tangie, was his high school sweetheart. The couple has a daughter, Tyann (1/17/00), and son, Germiah Gregory (5/29/03).