When one is asked to come up with the greatest defensive ends of all time, the same names typically come up - Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Howie Long - and rightfully so. However, there is another player whose name warrants some more recognition - Shaun Ellis, elite Jets defensive lineman. Spending eleven years with the franchise, Shaun Ellis led the Jets to the postseason six times, often with subpar pieces filling in the other front seven slots beside him. With his versatility to play 3-Technique, 5-Technique, and even shift over to linebacker, Ellis' multiple double-digit sack seasons propelled him to the top seventy-five on the all-time sack leaderboard.
Ellis' football story began at Westside High School in South Carolina, where he started freshman year on the varsity team in the secondary. He returned punts and kicks, until his first real opportunity came. One of the defensive linemen went down with an injury, and Ellis took his place. He played on the defensive line, from that point on.
Heavily recruited by Florida and Clemson, Shaun Ellis opted to continue his football career at the University of Tennessee, where he spent three years. In 1997, his Tennessee Volunteers were SEC champions, led by future NFL star Peyton Manning. That year, Ellis picked up his famous nickname, "Big Katt." In his sophomore year, Ellis' Volunteers were expected to fall off following Manning's departure, but they defied all odds, winning all thirteen games en route to their National Championship. Following Ellis' successful 1999 Junior year, he declared for the 2000 NFL Draft.
Following the 1999 Season where the Jets finished last place in the AFC East, finishing with the second-worst sack total in the league, New York was desperate for a pass rusher. Surprised that he even fell out of the top ten, General Manager Bill Parcells dealt away his second round pick to move up to take Shaun Ellis with the twelfth overall pick in the draft.
Quickly, the Jets' risk paid off. Ellis came into the league with a bang, recording 8.5 sacks on only three starts, good enough for the twenty-fifth most sacks in the league that year, second-best on the team behind only veteran Mo Lewis. Ellis helped propel the Jets to be a top-ten defensive team, finishing only one game behind a playoff berth. In 2001, following John Abraham's return to the field, Shaun Ellis had an opportunity to showcase his incredible versatility, playing in a run-stuffing role, starting fifteen of sixteen games. While his sack numbers dropped slightly, Ellis' hard-nosed interior-defensive play helped the Jets to a postseason appearance.
But 2003 was Shaun Ellis' true breakout year. At the age of 26, by the time that Mo Lewis began to decline, Ellis was showcased in Herman Edwards' defense as a pass rusher. Ellis showed up to the task, with 12.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his Pro Bowl campaign. In a six-win season, the Ellis still managed to will his defense to the twelfth overall rank, in spite of their otherwise weak linebackers and secondary.
Ellis followed this season up with an even better season in 2004, when he recorded eleven sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble, helping to lead the Jets to a ten win season and a postseason berth. Ellis was snubbed from the Pro Bowl in favor of Willie McGinest, who recorded less sacks and played less games than Ellis.
In the 2005 offseason, the Jets further placed their faith in Ellis, trading away his teammate John Abraham to the Falcons. As a seven year pro, in 2006, Ellis proved his versatility once again, playing all over the line, and even playing off the edge at linebacker. In Abraham's absence, Ellis led the Jets to thirty-five sacks, ten wins, and a playoff berth. Ellis put together a solid 2007 campaign before his best seasons in 2008 and 2009.
In 2008, Ellis recorded eight sacks and forced two fumbles. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 15, the final score in a Jets four point victory. Ellis put together his final Pro Bowl season in 2009, when he recorded 6.5 sacks en route to the Jets Divisional Playoff victory.
At 33 years of age, Shaun Ellis played the greatest game of his career. Playing against the archrival Patriots, Ellis put constant pressure on Tom Brady, recording 2 sacks and 5 tackles. His timely play would propel the Jets to the biggest playoff upset in modern AFC history, the biggest victory in franchise history since 1969.
In the 2011 offseason, Shaun Ellis signed with the New England Patriots. That season, the Jets failed to make the postseason, only winning eight games. Ever since losing Ellis, the Jets have been in a constant struggle to find a stud edge rusher.