FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When it comes to the cogs in a defensive wheel, few have moved the needle as significantly as Kaden Elliss since he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in March 2023. Elliss has been more than just a starter and playmaker for the unit — he has been its heartbeat.
The heart is the center of the body, much like Elliss is the center of the defense. From a communication standpoint, it's Elliss who has the green dot. From a production standpoint, there are few inside linebackers who put up the wholistic numbers Elliss has the last few years. Just recently, Elliss finished second in the league among linebackers with 30 pressures and was one of two players in the NFL (Tyrel Dodson) with 100-plus tackles, 10-plus tackles for loss, 3.5-plus sacks and an interception in 2025.
Because of the things Elliss does on the field, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulrbich said he's never coached a player quite like Elliss before.
"I've never had a line of scrimmage player run a defense, and in a lot of our defenses, he was a line of scrimmage player," Ulbrich said. "It's a testament to not only his intelligence, but it's probably a bigger testament to his process and how hard he worked at it. Elite communicator and mental processor. We put a lot on his plate, and he thrived."
That context is important because when the NFL calendar resets in March for the start of the new league year, Elliss is set to become a free agent.
Would the Falcons like to re-sign him?
"I would love Kaden back," Ulbrich said. "I think we all would."