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Jack Ellena

1931 – 2012

American football player

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About Jack Ellena

Lived 1931 – 2012 (aged 80). Jack Ellena was an American american football player.

Jack Duane Ellena (October 27, 1931 – March 23, 2012) was an American professional football player.

Ellena played offensive tackle for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1952 to 1954. He was a member of the Bruins team that lost the 1954 Rose Bowl and was named that year's FWAA & UPI national champions. That same year, Ellena was named to the College Football All-America Team and won the UPI Lineman of the Year.

In addition to playing football for the Bruins, Ellena wrestled heavyweight at UCLA. He was a two-time Pacific Coast Intercollegiate heavyweight champ (1953, 1954), and placed fourth at the 1953 NCAA wrestling championships at Penn State, earning All-American honors.

Ellena was selected in the 19th round (228th overall) of the 1953 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played guard and nose guard for the Rams from 1955 to 1956. He was cut by the Rams in 1957 and was unable sign with any teams in the National Football League or Canadian Football League.

After his football career, Ellena ran Mountain Meadow Ranch, a summer camp located near his home town of Susanville, California. In 1987, he was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Also known as
Jack Duane Ellena

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jack Ellena's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jack Ellena?

American football player (1931-2012)

When was Jack Ellena born?

Jack Ellena was born on 27 October 1931 in Susanville.

When did Jack Ellena die?

Jack Ellena died on 23 March 2012 in Palm Desert.

What was Jack Ellena's occupation?

Jack Ellena was an american football player.

What nationality was Jack Ellena?

Jack Ellena was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jack Ellena

· Wikidata: Q6112323

· DBpedia: Jack Ellena

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack Ellena. https://biography.guide/jack-ellena/

MLA: "Jack Ellena." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-ellena/.

Chicago: "Jack Ellena." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-ellena/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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