By Mallory Mattingly
Sunday’s New England Patriots-Denver Broncos match up saw brothers Christian Elliss and Jonah Elliss face off for the AFC Championship title.
Christian (Patriots LB) had an incredible game as he forced a backwards pass from Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
According to Sports Spectrum, he joined “the Patriots in December 2023 after being claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2025-26 season was the 27-year-old’s first as a regular starter, and he in turn recorded a career-high 94 combined tackles in the regular season (second on the team), three pass deflections and a forced fumble.”
For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.
Christian and the Broncos went on to win the AFC Championship, and he couldn’t help but feel heartbroken for his brother Jonah (Broncos LB).
“Holding my brother after the game, that’s not a feeling I ever want to replicate,” Christian told the media after the game. “I’m fine with winning. I’m so happy we did. But I know what he’s feeling. It’s bittersweet, for sure.”
Related: Patriots Rookie RB Credits Breakout Game to God: ‘Not My Will But His Will Be Done’
“I’ve never felt anything like this. The joy of the team. But then holding my brother after the game is a feeling I never want to replicate.”#Patriots LB Christian Elliss is Super Bowl bound winning Elliss Bowl over little bro Broncos’ Jonah & opens up to me on bittersweet day: pic.twitter.com/S3VbHS0Vdc
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 26, 2026
Christian encouraged his brother to look to God amid the painful loss.
“I told him to keep his head up,” the athlete said. “I told him that God has him. In everything we do, we give Him glory — win, loss, tie.”
Christian not only professes his faith in Christ verbally but also writes Bible-based reminders on his body for games.
One image captured Psalm 23 written on the inside of his left forearm. On his wrist tape, he penned AO1, which stands for Audience of One.
While he likes securing wins, Christian’s ultimate purpose is to glorify God with his play.
“We’re worried about winning. We’re worried about putting our best foot forward,” he told the media in week 18. “As for me, I’m gonna honor God with everything I do [and] encourage that to my teammates too.”
In his Instagram bio, the linebacker writes, “All glory to God,” as well as, “Live your life so only His name will be remembered.”
His bio also includes John 3:16-21, which reads:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Christian and the New England Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Read Next: Patriots QB Eyes AFC Championship as Opportunity to Share the Gospel
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +1Share:
– Content: +2