Ben Ellefson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ben Ellefson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Minnesota Vikings
| number =
| position = Offensive assistant
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|09|01|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Hawley, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 250
| high_school = Hawley
| college = North Dakota State (2015–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
| pastcoaching =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{nfly|2023}}–present)
Offensive assistant
| status =
| highlights =
- 3× FCS champion (2017, 2018, 2019)
| statleague =
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 36
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = ElleBe00
}}
Benjamin Ellefson (born September 1, 1996){{Cite web |title=Ben Ellefson Stats, News, Bio |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3930900/ben-ellefson |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=ESPN |language=en}} is a former American football tight end. He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison and played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings.
College career
Ellefson played college football for the North Dakota State Bison. During his senior season, Ellefson caught 15 passes for 199 yards and five touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2020 |title=Ben Ellefson: Joining Jacksonville |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/ben-ellefson-joining-jacksonville/ |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} He was also a noted blocker during the team's running game. Ellefson finished his college career with 35 receptions for 463 yards and 16 touchdowns, a program record for tight ends.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Eric |date=January 19, 2020 |title=NFL Draft analyst says Bison tight end Ellefson 'trending in the right direction' |url=https://www.inforum.com/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/football/4870796-NFL-Draft-analyst-says-Bison-tight-end-Ellefson-trending-in-the-right-direction |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=INFORUM |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/8
| weight = 249
| arm span = 32 3/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028043&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 Draft Scout Ben Ellefson, North Dakota State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Ellefson went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, and was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{Cite web |last=Uglem |first=Ross |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Jaguars sign NDSU TE Ben Ellefson as a UDFA |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-dakota-state/Article/Jaguars-sign-NDSU-TE-Ben-Ellefson-as-a-UDFA-NDSU-Football-Matt-Entz-146493733/ |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=BisonReport.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Chase |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Ben Ellefson signs with Jacksonville, Zack Johnson signs with Green Bay |url=https://kfgo.com/2020/04/25/ben-ellefson-signs-with-jacksonville-zack-johnson-signs-with-green-bay/ |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=The Mighty 790 KFGO |language=en}} He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,{{Cite news |last=Oehser, John |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Roster Reduction: Jaguars move to 53 players |work=Jaguars.com |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-reduction-jaguars-move-to-53-players-x4699 |access-date=September 21, 2020}} and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Eric |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Multiple former Bison players signed to NFL practice squads |url=https://www.inforum.com/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/football/6650278-Multiple-former-Bison-players-signed-to-NFL-practice-squads |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=INFORUM |language=en}} He was elevated to the active roster ahead of the team's 2020 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on September 12,{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Demetrius |date=September 12, 2020 |title=Jaguars elevate two rookies to active roster |url=https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2020/9/12/21434180/jaguars-elevate-rb-nathan-cottrell-te-ben-ellefson-to-teams-active-roster |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=Big Cat Country |language=en}} and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{Cite news |date=September 15, 2020 |title=Ben Ellefson: Drops to practice roster |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/ben-ellefson-drops-to-practice-roster/ |access-date=September 21, 2020}} He was elevated again on September 19 for the team's week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{Cite news |last=Johnson, James |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Jags promote Ben Ellefson from practice squad to active roster |work=USAToday.com |url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/19/jags-promote-ben-ellefson-from-practice-squad-to-active-roster/ |access-date=October 5, 2020}} He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on October 17, 2020,{{Cite news |last=DiRocco, Michael |date=October 17, 2020 |title=Jaguars close facility and place 12 practice-squad players, Josh Mauro on reserve/COVID-19 list |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30130808/jacksonville-jaguars-closing-their-facility-positive-covid-19-test |access-date=October 31, 2020}} and was activated back to the practice squad on October 22.{{Cite news |last=Williams, Charean |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Jaguars remove 11 players from reserve/COVID-19 |work=NBCSports.com |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/10/22/jaguars-remove-11-players-from-reserve-covid-19/ |access-date=October 31, 2020}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 22.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Jaguars Make Roster Moves |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-make-roster-moves-x3412 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=Jaguars.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on December 5.{{cite web|title=Jaguars Make Roster Moves|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-make-roster-moves-x7464|website=Jaguars.com|date=December 5, 2020}}
On August 31, 2021, Ellefson was waived by the Jaguars.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Reduce Roster to 53|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-reduce-roster-to-53|website=Jaguars.com|date=August 31, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902030149/https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-reduce-roster-to-53|url-status=dead}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
On September 1, 2021, Ellefson was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings.{{cite web|title=Vikings Claim TE Ben Ellefson & Sign 14 to Practice Squad|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/pratice-squad-ben-ellefson-tight-end-roster-2021|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=September 1, 2021}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 28 with knee and foot injuries.{{cite web|title=Vikings Place TE Ben Ellefson on Injured Reserve|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/ben-ellefson-ir-injured-reserve-tight-end|website=Vikings.com|date=October 30, 2021}} He was activated on January 8, 2022.{{cite web|title=Vikings Activate Christian Darrisaw & Ezra Cleveland, Make Multiple Roster Moves|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-activate-christian-darrisaw-ezra-cleveland-make-multiple-roster-moves|website=Vikings.com|date=January 8, 2022}}
On October 8, 2022, Ellefson was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Vikings Sign Myles Dorn to 53; Place Ben Ellefson on IR|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/myles-dorn-ben-ellefson-injured-reserve-roster-moves|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=October 8, 2022}} He was activated on November 30. He was placed back on injured reserve on December 7.{{cite web|title=Vikings Place CB Akayleb Evans and TE Ben Ellefson on IR|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/akayleb-evans-ben-ellefson-ir-injured-reserve|website=Vikings.com|date=December 7, 2022}}
On June 1, 2023, Ellefson announced his retirement from professional football.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Vikings Tight End Ben Ellefson Announces Retirement |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/ben-ellefson-tight-end-retires |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Vikings.com |language=en-US}}
Coaching career
Five days after retiring as a player, Ellefson was added to the Vikings' coaching staff as an Offensive Assistant.{{cite web | title=Days after retiring, Vikings' TE Ben Ellefson joins team's football staff | website=CBS Minnesota | date=2023-06-06 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/days-after-retiring-vikings-te-ben-ellefson-joins-team-football-staff/ | access-date=2025-01-06}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://gobison.com/sports/football/roster/ben-ellefson/8436 North Dakota State Bison football bio]
{{2017 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2018 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2019 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellefson, Ben}}
Category:People from Hawley, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:American football tight ends
Category:North Dakota State Bison football players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players