The NFL announced on Monday that kicker Jake Elliott has been named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Elliott replaces Rams kicker Matt Gay, who is unable to participate due to the Super Bowl.
Elliott is the fourth Eagle to earn Pro Bowl honors this season, joining defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, center Jason Kelce, and cornerback Darius Slay. The annual AFC-NFL all-star game takes place Sunday, February 6 in Las Vegas.
Elliott was tremendous in 2021, making 30 of 33 field goals – his 90.9 percent success rate set a franchise record – and converting all 44 of his PAT kicks to score a career-high 134 points. He was 3 for 3 from beyond 50 yards.
"I'm just trying to strike the ball clean week in and week out, and trying to perfect the craft. I'm trying to have good foot to ball, good rotation, all of the nerdy stuff about kickers," Elliott said during the season. "Obviously things are clicking. (Long snapper) Rick (Lovato) is doing a great job, (punter/holder) Arryn (Siposs) is doing a great job, and I'm just really comfortable. It's fun every day going out with (Special Teams Coordinator Michael) Clay, going out with (Special Teams Quality Control Coach) Tyler (Brown) and the guys, and we really enjoy what we're doing."
In November, Elliott became the first Eagle to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors since David Akers in 2010 after leading all NFC kickers with 35 points and eight field goals (including two 50+ yard field goals). In the November 21 win against New Orleans, Elliott was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week following a career-high 16-point performance, the most points scored by an Eagles kicker since 2014.
"They're a well-oiled machine between Jake, Arryn, and, really, it all starts with Rick," Clay said. "Rick serves a great, short snap and makes it easy for Arryn to hold and takes the mind off Jake of where the laces are and everything like that. So, in terms of mechanically, they do it for so long, I don't need to tell them anything. I just try to keep them loose and in a great mental space. It's all kudos to them. They're the ones going out there and putting in the hard work. I'm just there as the caddie, 'Hey, maybe you want to do this on this situation,' and let them go out and play."
The fifth-year kicker already owns several franchise records, including the longest field goal in both the regular season (the game-winning 61-yarder from the 2017 win over the Giants) and the playoffs (a 53-yarder vs. Atlanta in the 2017 NFC Divisional Round). Elliott also owns the two longest field goals (46, 43) by any rookie in Super Bowl history.
Elliott's 118 career field goals are the second most in Eagles history behind only David Akers. Elliott is third on the Eagles' all-time scoring list with 529 points and has the second-most field goals of 50+ yards with 15, just one behind Akers.
"I try to keep everything right in front of me and get ready for my next kick," Elliott said. "I know it's not very exciting but that's the way I am. I know you're only as good as your next kick."
