Last Updated on October 14, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Jonah Elliss is an American professional football outside linebacker who plays for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 3, 2003, he grew up in a family with an extraordinary connection to American football. His father, Luther Elliss, was a two-time NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle, while three of his older brothers also reached the league. Jonah played college football at the University of Utah before Denver selected him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jonah Elliss is married to Kasey Elliss, formerly Kasey Wardle, a former University of Utah soccer goalkeeper. The couple married in March 2025. His parents are Luther and Rebecca Elliss, who raised 12 children, including seven through adoption. Jonah therefore has 11 siblings, among them NFL players Kaden, Christian and Noah Elliss. Although his wife and extended family are publicly documented, there are no reliable public reports confirming that Jonah has children.
Jonah Elliss’s Wife: Meet Kasey Wardle Elliss
Jonah Elliss’s wife is Kasey Wardle Elliss, his longtime romantic partner and a former college soccer player.
The couple developed their relationship while attending the University of Utah, where Jonah played defensive end for the Utes and Kasey represented the university’s women’s soccer team.
They became publicly known as a couple during their college years, with their relationship attracting additional attention when Jonah entered the 2024 NFL Draft.
Kasey has an athletic background of her own and understands the demands associated with competing at the collegiate level.
She supported Jonah through his college football career and his transition to the Denver Broncos.
In January 2026, The Denver Gazette independently identified Kasey as Jonah’s wife while covering the Broncos’ AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
Who Is Kasey Wardle?
Kasey Wardle is a former University of Utah goalkeeper originally from Meridian, Idaho.
She attended Rocky Mountain High School, where she became an accomplished soccer player.
According to her official University of Utah athletics biography, she helped her high school win three consecutive Idaho Class 5A state championships between 2018 and 2020.
She also earned multiple All-State and All-Conference honors.
Before college, Kasey recorded 238 career saves and 32 shutouts in high school soccer.
Her performances helped her earn an opportunity to compete for Utah.
Kasey enrolled at the university in 2021 and studied communication.
Her parents are Rob and Jami Wardle, and she has two older sisters named Ashley and Bailey.
Kasey Wardle’s College Soccer Career
Kasey played goalkeeper for the University of Utah women’s soccer program.
After redshirting in 2021, she began earning playing time during the 2022 season.
That year, she appeared in seven matches and recorded several important shutout performances.
Her responsibilities increased in 2023, when she appeared in 15 matches and made 14 starts.
She recorded 78 saves during the season, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 Conference.
One of her most impressive performances came against UCLA, when she made 14 saves in a single match.
The performance was among the highest single-game save totals in Utah program history.
During the 2024 season, Kasey started 16 matches, recording 50 saves and six clean sheets.
She also received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition.
Her accomplishments demonstrate that she established her own athletic identity before becoming the wife of an NFL player.
How Did Jonah Elliss Meet Kasey Wardle?
Jonah Elliss and Kasey Wardle attended the University of Utah during overlapping years.
Their romantic relationship developed while both were college athletes.
Published accounts indicate that they were together by 2021, although the exact circumstances of their first meeting have not been independently established in major sports reporting.
The couple frequently appeared together in social media photographs during Jonah’s college career.
They also participated in activities with the Elliss family, including the family’s annual competitions.
As Jonah prepared to enter the NFL in 2024, Kasey remained an important part of his personal life.
When Did Jonah Elliss Get Engaged?
Jonah Elliss proposed to Kasey Wardle in July 2024.
The engagement came a few months after the Denver Broncos selected Jonah in the third round of the NFL Draft.
According to Sports Illustrated’s coverage of Broncos players’ wives and girlfriends, Elliss announced the engagement through a romantic social media message.
By November 2024, The Denver Gazette was publicly identifying Kasey as his fiancée.
The newspaper also described how she regularly participated in the Elliss family’s competitive gatherings.
When Did Jonah Elliss Get Married?
Jonah Elliss and Kasey Wardle married in March 2025.
Their marriage was confirmed in a July 29, 2025, interview published by The Denver Gazette.
The report explained that the Broncos linebacker had married his longtime college girlfriend during the NFL offseason.
Following the wedding, Jonah and Kasey traveled to Puerto Rico for their honeymoon.
The occasion came during an important period in Jonah’s professional career, as he was recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in the Broncos’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The couple continued their married life during his second NFL season.
In January 2026, Kasey joined relatives at Denver’s playoff victory over Buffalo.
Her presence was confirmed by The Denver Gazette, which interviewed Luther Elliss about the family’s preparations for the AFC Championship Game.
As of now, Jonah and Kasey Elliss are publicly confirmed as married.
Jonah Elliss’s Children: Does He Have Kids?
There are no publicly verified reports confirming that Jonah Elliss has children.
Although the Denver Broncos linebacker married Kasey in March 2025, the couple has not publicly announced the birth of a son or daughter in the reliable reporting reviewed for this article.
Most available information about their personal life concerns their relationship, engagement, wedding and shared interest in competitive sports.
The Denver Broncos’ official biography does not identify Jonah as a father.
Likewise, major interviews discussing his wife and extended family have not documented any children.
Although professional athletes sometimes choose to keep their children’s lives private, there is currently no reliable basis for claiming that Jonah and Kasey have a child.
As of now, no children have been publicly confirmed for Jonah Elliss.
Jonah Elliss’s Parents: Meet Luther and Rebecca Elliss
Jonah Elliss’s parents are Luther Elliss and Rebecca Elliss.
The couple are widely known for raising one of the largest families associated with professional American football.
They have 12 children, including five biological children and seven adopted children.
Their family history has been documented by the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, ESPN, Deseret News and other established publications.
Beyond football, Luther and Rebecca have become advocates for adoption and providing supportive homes for children.
Jonah Elliss’s Father: Luther Elliss
Luther Elliss is Jonah Elliss’s father and a former NFL defensive tackle.
Born on March 22, 1973, in Mancos, Colorado, Luther attended the University of Utah, where he developed into one of the school’s most accomplished defensive players.
During his college career, he earned multiple All-Conference honors and became a consensus All-American in 1994.
The Detroit Lions selected him with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft.
Luther spent nine seasons with Detroit before joining the Denver Broncos for the final year of his professional career in 2004.
He earned Pro Bowl selections following the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
Across ten NFL seasons, he appeared in 134 regular-season games.
His experience helped establish a strong football tradition within the Elliss household.
How Luther Elliss Influenced Jonah’s Football Career
Luther introduced his children to sports while encouraging them to develop discipline and independence.
However, he did not expect every child to pursue professional football.
The Elliss children participated in numerous sports and activities, often competing against one another during family gatherings.
Jonah eventually developed an interest in defensive football, following his father’s example.
During an April 2023 interview with Deseret News, Jonah explained that Luther regularly reviewed football footage with him.
His father sometimes showed him clips from his own playing career at Utah to demonstrate techniques that could be useful against offensive linemen.
Jonah also received advice from his older brothers, particularly those who had already reached the NFL.
The experience gave him access to an unusual amount of professional football knowledge while he was still a college athlete.
Luther Elliss’s Coaching Career
After retiring from the NFL, Luther continued working in football and community service.
He served as a team chaplain for the Denver Broncos during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
He subsequently became a defensive line coach at the University of Idaho in 2017.
During his time with the Vandals, he helped develop several defensive players, including members of his own family.
In January 2022, Luther returned to the University of Utah as defensive tackles coach.
The appointment brought him to the same university where Jonah was playing.
Although he was not Jonah’s primary position coach, he regularly helped him analyze techniques and opposing players.
The arrangement allowed father and son to strengthen their relationship through their shared interest in football.
Jonah Elliss’s Mother: Rebecca Elliss
Rebecca Elliss is Jonah Elliss’s mother and a prominent advocate for adoption.
She and Luther have publicly discussed their experiences raising 12 children and their commitment to treating every child as an equally important member of the family.
Rebecca became interested in adoption early in her marriage.
According to a detailed family interview published by the Atlanta Falcons, the couple had three children when they received an opportunity to adopt a baby boy named Isaiah.
Rebecca supported the idea immediately and began exploring the adoption process.
The experience encouraged the family to welcome additional children.
Over time, they adopted seven children while also raising five biological children.
Rebecca’s role involved managing a large household while maintaining close relationships with each child.
How Rebecca Raised 12 Children
Raising 12 children required considerable organization.
The family lived in several states during Luther’s professional football and coaching career.
According to the Atlanta Falcons, one of the family’s most important possessions was a custom-made wooden dining table measuring approximately 14 feet long.
It became the center of family gatherings.
During dinner, family members were encouraged to discuss their experiences and listen to one another.
The table accompanied the family through several moves.
Rebecca and Luther also used large passenger vans to transport their children to school, sporting events and other activities.
Despite the logistical challenges, they emphasized maintaining individual relationships with each child.
Jonah later explained that family gatherings were not dominated by discussions about professional football.
Instead, the siblings enjoyed spending time together, joking and participating in shared activities.
Why Luther and Rebecca Elliss Adopted Seven Children
Luther and Rebecca have explained that their decision to adopt was influenced by their personal values and religious faith.
The couple wanted to provide stable, loving homes for children who needed families.
They began adopting around 2000 and subsequently welcomed seven children through adoption.
According to the New England Patriots’ official family feature, the children grew up together without being treated differently based on whether they were adopted or biological relatives.
In interviews, the siblings have emphasized that they consider one another simply brothers and sisters.
The family has also supported organizations that help children in foster care find permanent homes.
Jonah Elliss’s Siblings: Meet His 11 Brothers and Sisters
Jonah Elliss has 11 siblings.
The complete family consists of 12 children: Kaden, Olivia, Christian, Noah, Isaiah, Isabelle, Sophia, Jonah, Micah, Elijah, Mia and Colsen Elliss.
Their names are confirmed by an official New England Patriots feature discussing Christian Elliss’s family and their experiences with adoption.
Four of the children — Kaden, Christian, Noah and Jonah — have reached the NFL.
Another brother, Elijah, has played college football at the University of Utah.
Kaden Elliss – Jonah Elliss’s Older Brother
Kaden Elliss is Jonah’s oldest brother and a professional NFL linebacker.
He played college football at the University of Idaho before the New Orleans Saints selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
After four seasons with the Saints, Kaden joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
His professional experience has been particularly valuable to Jonah.
During a November 2024 interview with the Denver Broncos, Jonah described Kaden as one of the most important role models in his life.
He explained that his older brother regularly sent videos and advice about pass-rushing techniques.
The two also developed a friendly rivalry.
In November 2024, they competed against one another when the Broncos faced the Falcons.
Christian Elliss – Jonah Elliss’s Older Brother
Christian Elliss is another of Jonah’s older brothers and an NFL linebacker.
Christian played college football at the University of Idaho and entered the NFL in 2021.
He spent time with several organizations before establishing himself with the New England Patriots.
His professional career includes winning Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles, having previously been part of their organization.
Christian and Jonah faced one another in January 2026 when the Broncos played the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The matchup was especially meaningful because the brothers had grown up playing competitive games together.
Their parents attended postseason games involving both teams, making arrangements to support both sons.
Noah Elliss – Jonah Elliss’s Older Brother
Noah Elliss is Jonah’s older brother and a former NFL defensive tackle.
He played college football at the University of Idaho, following the path established by Kaden and Christian.
Noah entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.
His professional football experiences contributed to the family’s collective knowledge of defensive line play.
Although Noah has generally received less national attention than some of his brothers, his development helped establish the Elliss family as one of the few households with four sons who reached the NFL.
Elijah Elliss – Jonah Elliss’s Younger Brother
Elijah Elliss is another football-playing brother of Jonah Elliss.
Like Jonah and their father, Elijah attended the University of Utah.
He played high school football at Layton Christian Academy in Utah and developed into a linebacker.
According to Utah Athletics, Elijah participated in four games during the 2024 season and earned Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team recognition.
During the 2025 season, he recorded 18 tackles and two sacks.
His college career continued the family’s football tradition across multiple generations.
Olivia, Isabelle, Sophia and Mia Elliss – Jonah’s Sisters
Jonah Elliss also has four publicly identified sisters: Olivia, Isabelle, Sophia and Mia Elliss.
Olivia is one of the oldest members of the family.
The New England Patriots’ family feature explains that she grew up alongside Kaden and Christian before their parents began adopting additional children.
Isabelle, Sophia and Mia joined the household as the family expanded.
Although the sisters have generally remained outside national professional sports coverage, their names and relationships are documented in official NFL reporting.
Reliable information about their occupations and private relationships is limited.
Isaiah, Micah and Colsen Elliss – Jonah’s Other Brothers
Isaiah, Micah and Colsen Elliss are three additional brothers in the family.
Isaiah was the first child adopted by Luther and Rebecca, according to the Atlanta Falcons’ extensive family interview.
Micah grew up alongside the other Elliss children and participated in the family’s shared activities.
Colsen is the youngest member of the family.
Although these brothers are not known primarily for professional football, they are part of the family relationships that Jonah has discussed in interviews.
Their individual personal and professional circumstances are not extensively documented in reliable public reporting.
The Elliss Family Olympics: A Unique Family Tradition
One of the family’s most distinctive traditions is the Elliss Family Olympics.
As the children grew older and began living in different states, the family developed organized competitions to encourage everyone to reunite.
According to The Denver Gazette, these gatherings include activities such as pickleball, cornhole, bocce ball, board games, video games and cooking competitions.
Family members form teams and compete for bragging rights.
In 2024, Luther explained that Kaden, Christian and Jonah had each captained teams in previous competitions.
Jonah and Kasey were particularly successful in pickleball.
Their performances helped Jonah’s team win the overall competition in 2022.
The family tradition demonstrates that the Elliss siblings maintain close relationships despite living in different locations and pursuing different careers.
Jonah Elliss’s Childhood and Family Background
Jonah Elliss was born on April 3, 2003, and grew up in a family that lived in several states during his father’s football and coaching careers.
He spent part of his childhood in Colorado and Utah before attending high school in Moscow, Idaho.
His family environment encouraged participation in sports, but his parents also emphasized education and personal responsibility.
Jonah attended Moscow Senior High School, where he became one of Idaho’s leading defensive football prospects.
He earned All-League recognition twice and was named Inland Empire League Player of the Year during his senior season.
His performances helped Moscow win two district championships.
He subsequently committed to the University of Utah, following his father’s collegiate football path.
Jonah Elliss’s College Football Career at Utah
Jonah Elliss played college football for the Utah Utes from 2021 through 2023.
He appeared in all 14 games during his freshman season, contributing primarily as a reserve linebacker and special teams player.
His role increased during the 2022 season when he started eight games and recorded 26 tackles and three sacks.
He earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition.
His breakthrough came in 2023.
During his junior season, Elliss recorded 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in ten games.
He also earned second-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press.
Although an injury interrupted his final college season, his performances established him as one of the leading defensive prospects entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
He subsequently graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in communication.
Jonah Elliss’s NFL Career With the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos selected Jonah Elliss with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The selection was particularly meaningful because his father had played for Denver in 2004 and later served as the team’s chaplain.
When Jonah received the draft call, his family celebrated enthusiastically.
According to Luther’s April 2024 interview with The Denver Gazette, the family had maintained strong connections to Colorado and was pleased that Jonah would begin his professional career with the Broncos.
During his rookie season, Elliss appeared in all 17 regular-season games.
He recorded 31 tackles and five sacks, earning a place on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
However, he suffered a fractured shoulder blade during Denver’s postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills in January 2025.
The injury required surgery and interrupted his offseason preparation.
Despite the setback, he returned for the 2025 season.
He appeared in 13 regular-season games, recording 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
He also contributed nine special teams tackles.
Elliss entered the 2026 season as a member of Denver’s linebacker rotation, continuing the family’s professional football legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jonah Elliss’s Family
Who is Jonah Elliss’s wife?
Jonah Elliss’s wife is Kasey Wardle Elliss, a former University of Utah soccer goalkeeper. The couple married in March 2025.
When did Jonah Elliss get married?
Jonah Elliss married Kasey Wardle in March 2025. They subsequently celebrated their honeymoon in Puerto Rico.
Who was Jonah Elliss’s girlfriend?
Jonah Elliss’s longtime girlfriend was Kasey Wardle. They dated during their university years before becoming engaged in July 2024 and marrying in March 2025.
Does Jonah Elliss have children?
There are no publicly verified reports confirming that Jonah Elliss has children.
Who are Jonah Elliss’s parents?
Jonah Elliss’s parents are Luther Elliss, a former NFL defensive tackle and college football coach, and Rebecca Elliss, an advocate for adoption.
Who is Jonah Elliss’s father?
Jonah Elliss’s father is Luther Elliss, a former Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos defensive tackle who earned two Pro Bowl selections.
Who is Jonah Elliss’s mother?
Jonah Elliss’s mother is Rebecca Elliss, who raised 12 children with her husband, Luther, including seven adopted children.
How many siblings does Jonah Elliss have?
Jonah Elliss has 11 siblings: Kaden, Olivia, Christian, Noah, Isaiah, Isabelle, Sophia, Micah, Elijah, Mia and Colsen Elliss.
Which of Jonah Elliss’s brothers have played in the NFL?
Three of Jonah’s brothers have also played in the NFL: Kaden Elliss, Christian Elliss and Noah Elliss.
Does Jonah Elliss have a younger brother who plays college football?
Yes. Jonah’s brother Elijah Elliss plays college football at the University of Utah, where their father, Luther, has coached the defensive line.
Was Jonah Elliss adopted?
Jonah grew up in a family with five biological and seven adopted children. The family has generally emphasized that all 12 are equally brothers and sisters, rather than publicly distinguishing every child’s adoption status.
Who is Kasey Wardle?
Kasey Wardle Elliss is Jonah Elliss’s wife and a former goalkeeper for the University of Utah women’s soccer team. She grew up in Meridian, Idaho.
Where is Jonah Elliss from?
Jonah Elliss grew up in several states and attended Moscow Senior High School in Idaho. His official Denver Broncos media guide lists Moscow, Idaho, as his birthplace.
What NFL team does Jonah Elliss play for?
Jonah Elliss plays outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos. The team selected him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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.
