Last Updated on November 13, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
J.J. Ross, whose full name is Jeremiah Ross, is an American professional football player who plays as a defensive back for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Born on February 11, 2001, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ross played college football at Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University before beginning his professional career.
He joined the Edmonton Elks in July 2024 and developed into one of the team’s important defensive players. His performances during the 2025 and 2026 seasons earned him recognition as a promising cornerback in the CFL.
Although Ross has received increasing attention for his football achievements, he has maintained considerable privacy regarding his family life. The identities of his parents, any brothers or sisters, and his romantic partner have not been reliably confirmed through available public sources.
However, Ross has shared occasional personal memories, including discussing his grandmother’s cooking during a September 2026 podcast interview.
Who Is J.J. Ross’s Girlfriend?
J.J. Ross has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend, wife or romantic partner through reliable interviews, official football biographies or established sports publications.
Most of the information available about the Edmonton Elks defensive back focuses on his football career, personal development and experiences playing professionally in Canada.
During an appearance on the Elks Central podcast on January 16, 2026, Ross discussed his college football journey, the challenges he experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and his transition to professional football.
He also discussed how his faith and personal values influenced his decisions and helped him navigate the pressures associated with being a professional athlete.
However, the published interview description did not identify a girlfriend or wife.
Similarly, his official biographies from Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University provide information about his athletic achievements but do not establish his romantic relationship status.
Therefore, there is insufficient verified information to determine whether Ross is currently single, dating someone or married.
Does J.J. Ross Have Children?
There is no verified public information confirming whether J.J. Ross has any children.
His official college football biographies, Edmonton Elks player announcements and available interviews do not identify any sons or daughters.
Although Ross has participated in interviews discussing his personal interests and experiences outside football, he has not publicly provided reliable information about fatherhood.
Consequently, whether he has children remains unconfirmed.
Who Are J.J. Ross’s Parents?
J.J. Ross was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in the surrounding region before pursuing college football.
However, the names and personal backgrounds of his parents have not been reliably established through the official university biographies and sports interviews reviewed.
J.J. Ross’s Father
The identity of J.J. Ross’s father has not been publicly confirmed through reliable sports sources.
His official Western Illinois University biography provides details about his high school, college career and athletic accomplishments but does not identify his father.
Similarly, his Eastern Illinois University football profile focuses on his performances as a defensive back without providing information about his father’s occupation, education or personal history.
Although Ross has spoken about the experiences and values that shaped his football career, available reporting does not establish his father’s identity or specific involvement in his athletic development.
Therefore, additional details about his father remain publicly undocumented.
J.J. Ross’s Mother
The name of J.J. Ross’s mother has also not been reliably confirmed through official university football biographies or established sports reporting.
Ross attended Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio, where he developed into an accomplished defensive football player.
He subsequently received an opportunity to play college football at Eastern Illinois University before transferring to Western Illinois University.
However, available official records do not identify his mother or provide verified information about her personal or professional background.
As a result, her identity remains publicly unconfirmed.
Does J.J. Ross Have Siblings?
There is no verified public information establishing whether J.J. Ross has any biological brothers or sisters.
His official Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois football biographies do not provide a list of siblings.
Similarly, available interviews with the Edmonton Elks defensive back have not reliably identified any brothers or sisters.
Does J.J. Ross Have a Brother?
J.J. Ross has not publicly identified a brother through reliable sports reporting or official football records.
Although he has discussed relationships with teammates and other people who influenced his athletic development, these comments do not establish a biological sibling relationship.
Therefore, it is not possible to confirm whether Ross has one or more brothers.
Does J.J. Ross Have a Sister?
There is also no verified public information confirming whether J.J. Ross has a sister.
His university athletics profiles and available professional football interviews do not identify any sisters or provide information about their personal lives.
Consequently, the number and identities of his siblings remain unknown.
J.J. Ross’s Grandmother and Family Memories
Although J.J. Ross rarely discusses his immediate family publicly, he has shared at least one personal memory involving his grandmother.
During an appearance on the Antler Up with Morley Scott podcast in September 2026, Ross discussed his grandmother’s cooking.
The interview, released as Episode 93, featured a discussion of traditional home-cooked food, including chicken, greens, macaroni and cornbread.
The conversation provided listeners with a glimpse into Ross’s personal experiences and family memories outside professional football.
However, the published episode description does not identify his grandmother by name or specify whether she is related to him through his mother or father.
There is also limited verified information about her occupation, hometown or other personal details.
Nevertheless, the interview represents one of the few publicly documented references to Ross’s extended family.
J.J. Ross’s Family Background and Early Life
J.J. Ross was born on February 11, 2001, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.
He attended Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio, where he became a standout defensive back.
During his junior season, Ross recorded 29 tackles, including 19 solo tackles, along with two interceptions.
He continued improving during his senior season, recording 25 tackles, six interceptions and one forced fumble.
One of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown.
His performances earned him First Team All-Conference recognition and a place on the Division I All-Ohio football team.
After completing high school, Ross enrolled at Eastern Illinois University in 2019.
During his freshman season, he appeared in all 12 games, making six starts at cornerback.
He recorded 24 tackles and four interceptions, leading Eastern Illinois in interceptions.
His performances earned him Third Team Freshman All-American recognition from Phil Steele.
Ross continued playing for Eastern Illinois during the shortened 2020 season, which took place in spring 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He appeared in six games, recording 18 tackles and five pass breakups.
Following that season, Ross transferred to Western Illinois University, where he became a regular starter for the Leathernecks.
During the 2021 season, he recorded 35 tackles and six pass breakups.
He followed that performance with another 35 tackles and two interceptions in 2022.
During his final college season in 2023, Ross started all 11 games and recorded 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
His college performances helped him attract attention from professional football organizations.
J.J. Ross’s Community Involvement and Personal Values
Beyond his athletic achievements, J.J. Ross has received recognition for community involvement and leadership.
In July 2023, Western Illinois University announced that Ross had been nominated for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.
The recognition highlighted student-athletes who demonstrated leadership, academic responsibility and commitment to their communities.
Western Illinois head coach Myers Hendrickson praised Ross for positively influencing the university community and setting an example for younger players.
Ross also served as a team captain within one of the program’s Hanson Hero teams, contributing to leadership and community-building activities.
During a January 2026 Elks Central interview, he discussed returning to his former high school to help coach its track team during the offseason.
He also spoke about the importance of faith and maintaining personal discipline while navigating professional football.
These activities demonstrate that his interests extend beyond playing football.
J.J. Ross’s Professional Football Career
After completing his college football career, J.J. Ross pursued opportunities in professional football.
In May 2024, he received an invitation to participate in the Detroit Lions’ rookie minicamp.
Although he did not secure a regular-season NFL roster position, the experience provided an opportunity to compete against other professional prospects.
On July 31, 2024, the Edmonton Elks announced that they had signed Ross to their practice roster.
He made his CFL debut on August 25, 2024, against the Montreal Alouettes.
During the 2025 season, Ross began the year on Edmonton’s practice roster before earning a starting position in Week 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
He subsequently started the team’s final 13 regular-season games.
Ross recorded 52 defensive tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and seven pass knockdowns during the season.
His performances established him as one of Edmonton’s important young defensive players.
On December 24, 2025, the Elks announced a contract extension keeping Ross with the organization through the 2027 season.
Ross continued his strong performances in 2026.
On August 15, 2026, he recorded two interceptions, including one returned 85 yards for a touchdown, during Edmonton’s 42-12 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.
His performance earned him recognition as one of the CFL’s top players for Week 11.
On October 29, 2026, the Edmonton Elks announced that Ross had been selected to the West Division All-CFL team for the first time in his career.
Frequently Asked Questions About J.J. Ross’s Family
Who is J.J. Ross’s girlfriend?
J.J. Ross has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend or romantic partner through reliable interviews or official football biographies.
Is J.J. Ross married?
There is no verified public information confirming whether Edmonton Elks defensive back J.J. Ross is married.
Does J.J. Ross have children?
There is no reliable public information establishing whether J.J. Ross has any sons or daughters.
Who is J.J. Ross’s father?
The identity of J.J. Ross’s father has not been reliably established through his official university biographies or available sports reporting.
Who is J.J. Ross’s mother?
The name of J.J. Ross’s mother has not been publicly verified through reliable football sources.
Does J.J. Ross have a brother?
There is no verified public information confirming whether J.J. Ross has a brother.
Does J.J. Ross have a sister?
There is no verified public information identifying a sister of J.J. Ross.
Who is J.J. Ross’s grandmother?
J.J. Ross discussed his grandmother’s cooking during a September 2026 appearance on the Antler Up with Morley Scott podcast. However, her name was not identified in the published episode description.
What is J.J. Ross’s real name?
J.J. Ross’s full name is Jeremiah Ross.
How old is J.J. Ross?
J.J. Ross was born on February 11, 2001, making him 25 years old in November 2026.
Where is J.J. Ross from?
J.J. Ross is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio.
Where did J.J. Ross play college football?
Ross played college football at Eastern Illinois University from 2019 to 2020 and Western Illinois University from 2021 to 2023.
What team does J.J. Ross play for?
J.J. Ross plays as a defensive back for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
