Aaron Elling
Encyclopedia
Aaron John Elling is an American football
placekicker
who is currently a free agent
in the National Football League
. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
at Wyoming
.
Elling has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans
, Baltimore Ravens
, Atlanta Falcons
, Jacksonville Jaguars
, Cincinnati Bengals
and the Oakland Raiders
.
where he started his football career. After finishing his exercise physiology degree at Wyoming, he went to Pacific University
to study in optometry.
In 2003, Elling signed with the Vikings as a free agent and played in all 16 games scoring 102 points. He made his NFL debut at the Green Bay Packers
on September 7. He was waived by the Vikings on September 2, 2004.
on September 10, 2004 and in the season opener he scored five points and played as both Kicker and Punter. He was then waived by the Titans.
and was placed on season-ending injured reserve
. He was waived by the Vikings on September 6, 2005.
as a free agent on September 27, 2005 and played in nine games. He was waived by the team on September 1, 2006.
during the 2007 preseason. However, in his preseason debut, he tore a ligament in his knee attempting to make a tackle on kickoff, and was released on September 2.
to fill in for Sebastian Janikowski
in the preseason. Offensive tackle Mark Wilson
was placed on injured reserve to make room for Elling. He was cut on August 26.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys football
The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles...
.
Elling has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Born in Waconia, his family moved to Wyoming in his childhood. During his high school studies at Lander Valley High, he was a speaking at numerous events and was a player in the soccer team with whom he won two All-State honours.College career
He originally attended George Fox College where he played soccer but transferred to University of WyomingUniversity of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
where he started his football career. After finishing his exercise physiology degree at Wyoming, he went to Pacific University
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
to study in optometry.
First stint with Vikings
He signed for the Miami Dolphins as a college free agent on May 7, 2002 but was waived on August 27.In 2003, Elling signed with the Vikings as a free agent and played in all 16 games scoring 102 points. He made his NFL debut at the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on September 7. He was waived by the Vikings on September 2, 2004.
Tennessee Titans
Elling signed with the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on September 10, 2004 and in the season opener he scored five points and played as both Kicker and Punter. He was then waived by the Titans.
Second stint with Vikings
Elling re-signed as a free agent by the Vikings on September 17, 2004. He suffered a broken ankle at the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and was placed on season-ending injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was waived by the Vikings on September 6, 2005.
Baltimore Ravens
Elling signed with the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as a free agent on September 27, 2005 and played in nine games. He was waived by the team on September 1, 2006.
Atlanta Falcons
On March 22, 2007, Elling signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He was cut on August 6.Jacksonville Jaguars
Elling was signed by the Jaguars on August 10, 2007 as a free agent but was then released.Cincinnati Bengals
Elling was then signed by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
during the 2007 preseason. However, in his preseason debut, he tore a ligament in his knee attempting to make a tackle on kickoff, and was released on September 2.
Oakland Raiders
On August 8, 2008, Elling was signed by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to fill in for Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
in the preseason. Offensive tackle Mark Wilson
Mark Wilson (American football)
Mark Wilson is a free agent American football offensive tackle for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League . He played college football at the University of California, Berkeley. He played high school football at Fall River High School in McArthur, California....
was placed on injured reserve to make room for Elling. He was cut on August 26.