Elijah Lee

Elijah Lee's Biography

Elijah James Lee, born on February 8, 1996, is an esteemed American football linebacker who has left an indelible mark in the sport. His journey started in Blue Springs High School, where under the watchful eyes of head coach Kelly Donohoe, Lee honed his skills and shared the ground with Kansas State running back Dalvin Warmack. During his high school career, Lee excelled and got recognized as a two-time Kansas City Star All-Metro honoree and two-time recipient of the Buck Buchanan Memorial Award. Thus, he proved himself to be one of the best linebackers or linemen in Kansas or Missouri high school.

As a junior in 2012, he was selected for the MaxPreps Junior All-American team. His impressive statistics of collecting 71 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks helped his selection. Hence, both the coaches and media honored him as a first-team All-State. The following year, senior Lee recorded another breathtaking 85 tackles, which included 36 for loss and 12 sacks. Apart from being a unanimous pick for the MFCA All-State squad, he also got selected as the MFCA Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to football, multi-talented Lee offered impressive performances in the field of basketball and track and filed while at Blue Springs.

Lee got recognized as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and received a rating as the 39th-best outside linebacker nationally. Deciding to join Kansas State on March 26, 2013, Lee transitioned from defensive end in high school to outside linebacker. His three-year stint in Kansas State saw him bag consecutive All-Big 12 Conference honors, making him the first Wildcat linebacker to achieve the feat since Arthur Brown in 2011 and 2012.

Lee showcased an outstanding collegiate career. His record includes 209 total tackles (153 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and five interceptions. As a freshman in 2014, he participated in all 13 games and displayed his courage on field with impressive tackling. His 4.5 sacks were the most major sacks by a true freshman in Kansas State school history. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches in 2015 as a sophomore and led the team with 80 tackles.

As a junior in 2016, Lee’s crucial 110 total tackles resulted in first-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches and votes for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. His impeccable tackling skills ranked third in the Big 12, setting the stage for his later success in NFL draft in 2017.

In his pro day, despite missing the NFL Scouting Combine, Lee impressed the Minnesota Vikings linebackers coach Adam Zimmer with his agility. Following his selection in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, Lee couldn’t hide his pride and happiness and remarked how Vikings were one of his favorite teams. After moving around in the sport with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, among other teams, Lee joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, another remarkable milestone in his illustrious career.

To date, Elijah James Lee, the boy from Blue Springs, has evolved as a world-class football linebacker and is praised for his sportsmanship and commitment to the game. From his early days in high school to his professional ventures with big names like Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs, Lee has shown an inspiring journey of growth and resilience.