Gerry Ellis

Gerry Ellis (born November 12, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1980 NFL draft. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1994.

College career After playing high school football at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, Ellis spent his first year post-high school at Fort Scott Junior College. He later played at Missouri, where he started at fullback but was injured midway through his senior year. He returned in time for the 1979 Hall of Fame Classic against South Carolina, where he scored a touchdown.

Professional career Ellis was drafted 192nd overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 1980 NFL draft, but was cut by the team in his first preseason and was claimed by the Green Bay Packers in free agency during the opening stages of the 1980 season. After rising to starting fullback in the middle of September 1980, Ellis scored his first career NFL touchdown against the Rams. On September 30, 1984, Ellis caught a lateral from James Lofton as time expired against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scoring a touchdown and sending the game into overtime. The Packers unfortunately lost the game in overtime. After playing at fullback from 1980 to 1983, Ellis moved to running back before 1984. and returned kicks for the Packers in 1985.

Before the 1987 season, Ellis was volunteering at a football camp for underserved youth and tore his Achilles tendon while working out, never to step on an NFL field again.

Ellis was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1994.

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1980 GNB 15 13 126 545 4.3 22 5 48 496 10.3 69 3 1981 GNB 16 16 196 860 4.4 29 4 65 499 7.7 46 3 1982 GNB 9 8 62 228 3.7 29 1 18 140 7.8 20 0 1983 GNB 15 14 141 696 4.9 71 4 52 603 11.6 56 2 1984 GNB 16 16 123 581 4.7 50 4 36 312 8.7 22 2 1985 GNB 16 8 104 571 5.5 39 5 24 206 8.6 35 0 1986 GNB 16 6 84 345 4.1 24 2 24 258 10.8 29 0 103 81 836 3,826 4.6 71 25 267 2,514 9.4 69 10

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1982 GNB 2 2 9 48 5.3 17 0 8 99 12.4 31 0 2 2 9 48 5.3 17 0 8 99 12.4 31 0

Personal life Ellis grew up in Columbia, Missouri with eight siblings, where he competed in track and field and set Central Missouri Conference records in discus and shot put. While attending college at the University of Missouri, Ellis majored in education. He invested in real estate as a side job during his football career.