Hubbry Logo
Riki EllisonRiki EllisonMain
Open search
Riki Ellison
Community hub
Riki Ellison
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Riki Ellison
Riki Ellison
Riki Ellison
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Riki Morgan Ellison (born 15 August 1960) is a New Zealand-American former professional player of American football who was a linebacker for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was known as Riki Gray while playing college football for the USC Trojans, earning all-conference honors in the Pac-10 in 1982. He is the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. Ellison is also the founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance and the Youth Impact Program.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Ellison played for the Amphitheater Panthers in Tucson, Arizona, where he won a State Championship in 1975.[1] Ellison was the first All American at Amphitheater High School, and in 1977, he won Arizona Player of the Year.[citation needed] Ellison's jersey number, 35, has since been retired. Ellison is also a member of the Pima County Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

College career

[edit]

Ellison was part of a USC Trojans team that won two Rose Bowls in 1979 and 1980 and won a National Championship. Ellison was a four-year starter, beginning his Freshman year on the 1978 National Championship team.[2] He graduated from USC with a degree in international relations with a graduate emphasis on defense and strategic studies.[citation needed]

Professional career

[edit]

The NFL San Francisco 49ers chose him with their fifth-round pick in the 1983 NFL draft becoming the first-ever New Zealander and Māori to play in Professional Football. Jerry Attaway, his conditioning coach at USC and (teammate) Ronnie Lott had convinced Bill Walsh to select him in the draft. That year, Ellison was named to the All-Rookie Team and the next season named on the All Madden Team and he was an alternate All-Pro at the end of his career with the Raiders. Riki Ellison played in the same defensive backfield alongside Ronnie Lott for 12 seasons at USC, 49ers and Raiders.[3]

Ellison won three Super Bowls during his seven years with the 49ers.[4] He was drafted alongside a pair of future Pro Bowlers, running back Roger Craig and centre/guard Jesse Sapolu. In his final season with the 49ers in 1989, he broke his right arm in the final preseason game and was placed on the injured reserve list for the season.[5] He played his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Ellison's career included winning 3 Super Bowls, playing in 5 championship games.

In 2017, Ellison was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

Head coach at T.C. Williams High School

[edit]

In April 2001, Ellison accepted the position of head football coach for T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia (the same school featured in the 2000 movie Remember The Titans).[6] Ellison declined to seek renewal of his contract, and resigned in March 2003.[7]

Personal

[edit]

Ellison is of Māori descent (Ngāi Tahu), born in Christchurch, New Zealand. At eight, Ellison moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with his father, Dan, who went on to become an economic advisor to the United Nations. Shortly thereafter, Ellison's parents divorced and he relocated with his mother to Los Angeles, where she remarried Dennis Gray and moved to Beaver Creek Ranch, Rimrock, Arizona. Ellison went to high school in Tucson, Arizona.

The Ellison family comes from a strong sporting background. He is related to professional rugby players Tamati Ellison and Jacob Ellison who both played in Super Rugby. His grandfather Edward Ellison played on the 1911 NZ Maori team and was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938 for his work as a Doctor in the Pacific. Thomas Ellison, his great-uncle, played for the first New Zealand rugby team to play in Great Britain in 1888 and 1889, and captained the first New Zealand team to play in Australia in 1893.[8]

Riki Ellison is married to Heather Ellison. They have four children and six grandchildren. Wesley Ellison Steward, Brooke Ellison Carney, Rhett Ellison and Troy Ellison. Rhett Ellison was the Captain of the USC football team and was drafted into the NFL playing for 8 years as a tight end for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.

Ellison and 49ers teammates Lott, Joe Montana, and Dwight Clark were backup singers with Huey Lewis and the News on their 1980s singles "Hip to be Square" and "I Know What I Like".[9]

In 2009, NZ On Air made a documentary about Ellison titled The Defender.[10]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Riki Ellison

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Riki Morgan Ellison (born August 15, 1960) is a New Zealand-born American former professional American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL), winning three Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers. As the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first to win a Super Bowl, Ellison distinguished himself as a pioneering athlete of Māori descent, earning induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Ellison's college career at the (USC) included contributing to the 1978 national championship team and earning All-Pac-10 honors as a linebacker, after which he was drafted by the 49ers in 1983. Over six seasons with , he appeared in 74 games, starting 65, and recorded notable defensive plays including interceptions and fumble recoveries, solidifying his role in the team's dynasty during the 1980s. He later joined the for four seasons from 1989 to 1992, playing in 44 games with 42 starts before retiring. Post-retirement, Ellison transitioned into defense policy advocacy, founding the Advocacy Alliance in 2000 and serving as its chairman to promote advanced technologies amid debates over their feasibility and cost. He also established the Youth Impact Program to support underprivileged youth through education and athletics, drawing from his own experiences as an immigrant athlete. Ellison has occasionally commented on matters, criticizing organizational leadership in cases like the Minnesota Vikings' player management decisions.

Early life and heritage

Family background and Māori roots

Riki Ellison was born on August 15, 1960, in , , to father Raniera Marshall Ellison and mother Judith Morgan Ellison. His father's affiliations included the , , and , establishing Ellison's primary heritage through the paternal line. Ellison's ancestry features prominent figures, including his great-great-grandfather Chief Matenga Taiaroa, a tribal leader; great-grandfather Raneria Ellison, known for and support of Te Whiti o Rongomai; grandfather Edward Pohau Ellison, who received the (OBE); and grand-uncle Thomas Ellison, a pioneering rugby player who captained 's national team in 1894 and contributed to the adoption of the emblem. These connections underscore a lineage tied to leadership, early colonial-era activities, and sporting innovation within communities. He derives his first name from uncle Riki Te Mairaki Taiaroa Ellison, a respected elder, reflecting the family's enduring tribal significance. Ellison has publicly identified with descent, emphasizing this heritage in contexts like his induction into halls of fame recognizing Polynesian and athletes.

Childhood moves and introduction to sports

Ellison was born on August 15, 1960, in , New Zealand, to parents Raniera Marshall Ellison and Judith Morgan Ellison. His parents divorced during his early childhood, after which his mother remarried Dennis Gray, also of descent. In 1968, at age eight, Ellison relocated to the with his mother and sister, prompted by his mother's acceptance of a postgraduate dance scholarship at the . Following the initial move to , the family settled in for several years before shifting to , where Ellison attended and completed high school. These relocations exposed him to diverse environments, including rural "cowboy and Indian country" in , contrasting his origins. Ellison's introduction to organized sports came during his high school years at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, where he took up as a linebacker. He contributed to the team's state championship victory in 1975 and received individual awards, including all-state honors, in 1977. This period marked his shift toward the sport that would define his athletic career, building on a family legacy of athleticism rooted in New Zealand rugby traditions among relatives like his grandfather Edward Ellison, though no records indicate Ellison himself played rugby competitively as a child.

College football career

University of Southern California

Ellison joined the (USC) football program in 1978, playing as a linebacker for the Trojans through the 1982 season. During his freshman year, he contributed to USC's undefeated 12–1 campaign, which culminated in a recognized by both the and coaches' polls after a 14–6 Rose Bowl victory over on , 1979. The following season, USC reached the Rose Bowl again, facing Ohio State on , 1980, in a 17–16 defeat, though the team finished ranked No. 2 nationally. Over his four starting seasons at USC, Ellison helped anchor the Trojans' defense in an era of consistent Pac-10 contention under head coach John Robinson. As a senior in 1982, he earned All-Pac-10 honors, reflecting his leadership and performance on a squad that posted an 8–4 record. His college tenure positioned him for professional success, leading to his selection by the in the fifth round (117th overall) of the .

Name change and academic pursuits

During his senior year at the in August 1982, Ellison changed his surname from Gray—adopted from his Dennis Gray upon immigrating to the —to Ellison, reflecting his biological father's lineage and reconnection with his Māori heritage after reuniting with family. This shift occurred amid his final season of eligibility, where he earned All-Pac-10 honors as a linebacker, though he had been known as Riki Gray throughout most of his USC tenure from 1978 to 1982. Ellison pursued a degree in at USC, graduating in 1983 with an emphasis on Defense and , which laid foundational knowledge for his later advocacy in policy. His academic focus aligned with an interest in global security and strategic affairs, distinct from his athletic commitments, and he received a certificate in Defense and as part of his graduate-level coursework. This educational path, completed concurrently with his football career, positioned him for post-playing endeavors beyond sports.

Professional NFL career

San Francisco 49ers tenure and Super Bowl wins

Ellison was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (117th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California, becoming the first player of Māori ancestry to enter the league. He spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with the 49ers (1983–1989), primarily as a starting middle linebacker on the defensive unit under coordinators like George Seifert. During this period, Ellison appeared in 104 games, recording 5 sacks, 1 interception, and contributing to a defense that emphasized run-stopping and coverage in Bill Walsh's West Coast offense era. Ellison's tenure coincided with the 49ers' dynasty, as the team advanced to the in six of his seven seasons, including three NFC Championship appearances. He earned three rings: following the 1984 season (a 38–16 victory over the on January 20, 1985), after the 1988 season (20–16 over the on January 22, 1989), and after the 1989 season (55–10 over the on January 28, 1990). In , he started and helped limit the Dolphins' rushing attack led by to under 100 yards. For the 1988 and 1989 championships, Ellison was a key rotational and starting linebacker in defenses that ranked among the league's top units in points allowed, with the 1984 49ers often cited for their dominant 15–1 regular-season record.

Los Angeles Raiders and career statistics

Ellison signed with the as a on May 4, 1990, after declining to renew his contract with the , securing a three-year deal to address weaknesses at middle linebacker. Over three seasons (1990–1992), he served as a starting middle linebacker, appearing in 44 games with 42 starts, during which the Raiders compiled a 22–25 record. His defensive output with the Raiders included one interception for 7 yards in 1990, four fumble recoveries (two in 1991 and two in 1992), one forced fumble in 1991, and one sack in 1992 against the Seattle Seahawks on November 15. Tackle statistics were not comprehensively tracked league-wide during this era, but Ellison's role emphasized run defense and coverage in a 3-4 alignment under defensive coordinator Charlie Sumner.
YearTeamGames PlayedGames StartedSacksInterceptionsFumbles ForcedFumbles Recovered
1990LAR16150.0100
1991LAR16150.0012
1992LAR12121.0002
Ellison's overall NFL career spanned 10 seasons (1983–1992) with the 49ers and Raiders, totaling 124 games played (119 starts), 5.0 sacks, 1 regular-season , 5 forced fumbles, and 7 fumble recoveries. He appeared in 14 postseason games, contributing to three victories (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), though none during his Raiders tenure.

Retirement from playing

Ellison concluded his playing career after the 1992 season with the , his third and final year with the team. That year, he appeared in 12 games, starting all of them, while recording 1 sack and 2 fumble recoveries. Over his three seasons in (1990–1992), Ellison played in 44 games with 42 starts, adding 1 interception for 7 yards and contributing to the team's defensive efforts as a veteran middle linebacker. Prior to joining the Raiders as a in 1990, Ellison had spent his first seven professional seasons (1983–1989) primarily with the , though he appeared in zero games during 1989 due to or roster status. His overall tenure spanned 10 years and 124 games with 119 starts, accumulating 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 7 fumble recoveries, alongside three victories (XIX, XXIII, and XXIV) earned with the 49ers. No or specific reason for his , such as , was detailed in contemporary reports, marking a quiet transition from the league after a career defined by championships and reliability rather than individual accolades.

Coaching and youth mentorship

Head coaching at T.C. Williams High School

In April 2001, Riki Ellison was appointed head football coach at T.C. Williams High School in , succeeding , who had compiled a 4-16 record over the prior two seasons. The program had not reached the since 1990, amid broader school challenges including administrative instability and declining discipline following the desegregation-era successes of the 1970s. Ellison's tenure emphasized rebuilding player fundamentals and team cohesion, drawing on his experience as a three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker, while balancing coaching duties with his full-time role at Lockheed Martin in the Washington, D.C., area. The 2001 Titans finished 1-9, reflecting persistent issues with execution and motivation in a district featuring competitive opponents. In 2002, the team improved marginally to secure at least two victories, including a 9-7 win over Lake Braddock—their first against that opponent since 1991—but overall performance remained subpar. Ellison opted not to renew his contract after the 2002 season, citing demanding professional obligations that prevented sustained commitment to the role. His departure highlighted the challenges of leading a high-profile program like T.C. Williams, known for its 1971 state championship but hampered by socioeconomic shifts and internal divisions in the intervening decades.

Youth Impact Program and at-risk youth initiatives

In 2006, Riki Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program (YIP), a nonprofit initiative targeting at-risk, low-income students aged 10-14 from inner-city public schools, with an initial pilot program at the that summer. The program stemmed from Ellison's earlier experiences coaching at T.C. Williams High School in 2003, where he recognized the need for preventive interventions for younger adolescents to foster long-term positive development through structured academic, character-building, and athletic activities. YIP aims to equip participants with skills in STEM, leadership, and personal responsibility, drawing on Ellison's background as a three-time champion to emphasize discipline and goal-setting. The program's core structure consists of intensive summer camps held on university campuses, delivering approximately 60 hours of instruction over 10 days, including 20 hours each of STEM-based , and character development, and athletic training focused on football fundamentals. Participants receive comprehensive support, encompassing academic tutoring, guidance counseling, nutritional meals, new clothing, transportation, and field trips, all provided free of charge; is delivered by NCAA student-athletes, U.S. , and public school teachers to model resilience and achievement. While primarily serving adolescent boys, YIP has expanded to include girls in select locations, such as a 2022 program at the of . YIP partners with 15 universities across major U.S. cities, including USC, Stanford, and the , alongside collaborations with NFL teams and the NFL Players Association for resources and visibility; corporate sponsors like the BP Foundation and have supported operations. By 2023, the program had established 48 camps, impacting over 3,900 at-risk youth, 800 NCAA athletes as mentors, and hundreds of educators and military volunteers. Its efforts earned bipartisan congressional recognition through Senate Resolution 725 and House Resolution 1413 in 2008, commending the innovative model for youth development. Evaluations of YIP outcomes demonstrate measurable gains in participant performance, with 2023 data showing average improvements of 29% in , 23% in science, and 15% in among attendees; earlier cohorts reported 94% gains in STEM proficiency, 60% in language arts, and 41% in fundamentals in 2021, alongside 24% in math and 44% in language arts in 2019. These results, derived from pre- and post-program assessments, underscore the program's efficacy in addressing educational deficits among at-risk populations, though long-term longitudinal studies remain limited.

Missile defense advocacy

Founding the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

In , Riki Ellison established the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), a non-profit organization headquartered in , dedicated to advocating for the research, development, deployment, and evolution of integrated capabilities to counter ballistic, hypersonic, and threats. The MDAA's mission emphasizes educating policymakers, military leaders, and the public on the strategic necessity of layered defense systems, drawing on empirical assessments of global proliferation risks from nations like , , , and . Ellison, serving as founder and chairman since inception, positioned the group to bridge technical expertise with policy influence, independent of to maintain focus on capability enhancement over . Ellison's motivation for founding the MDAA traced back to his early exposure to missile defense concepts in 1980, when he was introduced to the field by Dr. William R. Van Cleave, Ronald Reagan's senior defense advisor during his governorship, and physicist Dr. , a key proponent of strategic defenses. This introduction occurred amid Reagan's emerging vision for protective technologies against Soviet nuclear threats, which Ellison later witnessed evolve into post-Cold War debates over defenses against rogue state arsenals. Post-retirement from the in the early , Ellison transitioned from business ventures to full-time advocacy, recognizing gaps in public and congressional support for systems like ground-based interceptors and deployments, which he argued were empirically justified by test data and threat trajectories despite fiscal and technical hurdles. By 2002, with U.S. withdrawal from the and initial tests underway, the MDAA filled a niche for non-partisan, industry-agnostic promotion of verifiable intercept success rates, such as those exceeding 50% in controlled flight tests by the early 2000s. The organization's launch capitalized on Ellison's network from over two decades of informal involvement, including attendance at missile defense tests and consultations with defense experts, to assemble a board of retired generals, scientists, and strategists committed to causal linkages between defensive architectures and deterrence stability. Initial efforts focused on countering in academic and media circles—often rooted in orthodoxy rather than interception kinetics—by disseminating on adversary inventories, projected to reach thousands by mid-decade, and advocating for allied integrations like Israel's system. This foundational approach prioritized first-hand verification over modeled simulations, establishing MDAA as a counterweight to institutional biases favoring vulnerability over protection in strategic discourse.

Key policy influences and international efforts

Through the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), which Ellison founded in 2002, he has shaped U.S. policy by advocating for increased funding, technological integration, and organizational reforms to counter advanced threats such as hypersonic weapons and peer competitors. MDAA's efforts include hosting congressional roundtables, such as the event on defense and the 2023 discussion on priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA), where Ellison emphasized balancing executive and legislative priorities to accelerate deployment. Ellison has also testified in state legislatures, including in in May 2003 in support of 7, urging federal commitment to sites amid growing threats from adversaries. A pivotal policy contribution came in April 2022, when Ellison and MDAA released a comprehensive report outlining reforms to the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. military services, combatant commands, and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The report argued for clearer delineations to enhance integrated air and missile defense architectures, addressing gaps exposed by great power competition from nations like China and Russia, and proposed shifting from legacy systems to next-generation capabilities including space-based sensors and interceptors. This initiative built on Ellison's long-term push for empirical validation of systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), following its successful 2007 intercept test, which he cited as evidence to bolster congressional confidence in expanding layered defenses. Internationally, Ellison has extended MDAA's advocacy to 31 countries, promoting cooperative frameworks to defend U.S. allies against proliferation threats. MDAA facilitates partnerships in regions like the and , including collaborations with nations such as , , the Republic of Korea, and to integrate U.S. technologies like and Patriot systems into collective defenses. Key efforts include the USC SHIELD executive program, launched in 2021, which trains global leaders on strategies, with capstone projects addressing scenarios in and space-based threats. Additionally, since 2011, MDAA has hosted 82 "Missile Defender of the Year" events across eight countries, honoring 1,016 personnel from 22 nations to foster and recognition of joint operations, such as NATO's European architecture. These initiatives underscore Ellison's focus on allied burden-sharing and to deter aggression without direct U.S. forward deployment.

Technological and space-based contributions

Ellison has advocated for the development and deployment of space-based interceptors as a critical component of boost-phase , enabling the neutralization of ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles during their vulnerable ascent phase. In a March 2025 MDAA event, he hosted discussions with experts including former Under Secretary of Defense Michael Griffin, who addressed challenges in intercepting ICBM boosters from orbit, and Dr. Lisa Porter, who emphasized non-kinetic options and "left of launch" strategies alongside recommendations for proliferated architectures and feasibility experiments within . These efforts align with executive directives for space-based systems to enhance deterrence by integrating defensive and offensive capabilities. Through MDAA, Ellison has promoted space-based tracking satellites for hypersonic and detection, as outlined in a June 2020 MDAA presentation on the space layer's role in persistent . His advocacy extends to policy influence, including support for space-based sensors in integrated architectures tested across 296 events he has attended since MDAA's founding in 2002. Ellison established educational initiatives to foster technological innovation, such as the USC SHIELD program launched in collaboration with the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering, focusing on space deterrence, hypersonic threats, and layered defense solutions. This program trains cohorts—such as the 24 professionals in the 2023-2024 group—in policy-technology integration, yielding capstone projects like defense strategies incorporating assets, with outputs influencing Department of Defense considerations. Complementary partnerships include a 2023 memorandum with the for the Institute for Near Space Studies, targeting research in near- technologies for , and a 2024 agreement with the for space sciences leadership programs. These contributions emphasize empirical testing and first-principles engineering for resilient space systems, prioritizing capabilities over international treaties to address evolving threats from adversaries deploying advanced missiles.

Debates on efficacy and criticisms

Critics of U.S. systems, including those promoted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), argue that no system has demonstrated reliable capability against realistic (ICBM) threats featuring , countermeasures, or salvos after over $350 billion invested since the 1950s. Organizations like the and the Arms Control Association contend that ground-based midcourse defenses, such as the (GMD), succeed in scripted tests but fail under operational conditions due to physics-based limitations like midcourse discrimination and boost-phase vulnerability windows. For instance, the Missile Defense Agency's reported high success rates in endgame intercepts have been challenged as inflated by excluding complex scenarios, with independent analyses estimating effectiveness below 50% against sophisticated attacks. Proponents, including MDAA, counter that incremental successes in layered defenses—such as and THAAD intercepts of shorter-range threats—validate the approach, citing real-world examples like Saudi interceptions of Houthi missiles in 2017-2022 and Israel's system against Iranian projectiles in , which demonstrate layered efficacy against regional ballistic threats. They emphasize empirical data from over 20 GMD tests since 1999, with 11 successes, and argue that critics overlook advancements in sensors and kill vehicles, asserting that perfect defense is unnecessary if deterrence is enhanced against rogue actors like , whose 2022 Hwasong-17 ICBM tests underscore the need for robust systems. However, congressional reports from the highlight ongoing debates over technological immaturity, with systems like GMD achieving only partial reliability in controlled environments and provoking adversaries to develop countermeasures. Broader criticisms target the strategic implications of MDAA's advocacy for expanded, space-based, and boost-phase defenses, warning of unintended escalation with and , who view U.S. pursuits as undermining and prompting hypersonic and fractional orbital bombardment developments. A 2025 study notes that while MDAA frames defenses as rogue-state focused, reconfiguration potential against peer powers fuels perceptions of offensive intent, leading to diplomatic tensions, such as 's 2007 space weapon tests and 's anti-satellite advancements. Cost-effectiveness debates further intensify scrutiny, with annual expenditures exceeding $10 billion amid audits revealing test failures and integration delays, prompting arguments that funds divert from offensive capabilities or without proportional gains. MDAA responds by advocating public education on these threats, but detractors from circles attribute over-reliance on advocacy-driven narratives to industry influence, though no direct funding controversies involving MDAA have been substantiated in .

Personal life and honors

Family and relationships

Ellison was first married to Sheila Ellison, a USC cheerleader he met during his college years, with their union lasting until a in 1996. The couple had four children: Wesley Ellison Stewart (born circa 1985), Carney (born circa 1987), Rhett Marshall Ellison (born circa 1989), and Troy Richard Ellison (born circa 1991). In April 2005, Ellison married Heather Ellison, whom he met following his divorce; the couple resides together and has no children of their own. Through his children, Ellison has eight grandchildren as of recent records. His son Rhett pursued a professional football career as a in the , playing for teams including the Minnesota Vikings and before retiring, and is married to model Raina Hein, with whom he has two children.

Awards, inductions, and legacy

Ellison was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 for his high school athletic achievements in football, track, wrestling, and basketball at Amphitheater High School in . In 2017, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as the first player recognized, honoring his college career at the —where he contributed to a national championship in 1978—and his professional tenure as a linebacker for the , including three victories in XIX (1985), XXIII (1989), and XXIV (1990). Ellison received further recognition in 2024 with induction into the New Zealand Māori Sports Hall of Fame, acknowledging his trailblazing role as the first New Zealander to play in the and win a , as well as his broader contributions to sports and . Ellison's legacy encompasses athletic pioneering and policy advocacy; in football, he exemplified resilience as an undersized linebacker who started for a dynasty team, while post-retirement, his founding of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance in 2002 established a nonprofit dedicated to advancing U.S. ballistic missile defense capabilities through , , and congressional engagement.

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElliRi20.htm
  2. https://www.raiders.com/history/all-time-roster/bios-e/riki-ellison
  3. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/about/board-of-directors/riki-ellison/
  4. https://usctrojans.com/sports/2017/6/16/blog-2016-10-ellison-earns-honor-html
  5. https://www.youthimpactprogram.org/about-us/yip-founder-ceo-riki-ellison/
  6. https://www.dailynorseman.com/2017/3/12/14902672/riki-ellison-vikings-toxic-leadership
  7. https://maorisportsdatabase.nz/directory/riki-ellison-2/
  8. https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2020/02/17/maori-super-bowl-winner-drops-in-on-te-aute-college/
  9. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65585187/riki-ellison-an-all-american-kiwi-hero
  10. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018925243/nz-sporting-history-riki-ellison
  11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-13-sp-11572-story.html
  12. https://sportsmedia101.com/nfl/2020/02/the-story-of-riki-ellison-in-the-nfl
  13. https://pcshf.org/riki-ellison/
  14. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2021/05/09/photos-from-usc-trojans-football-standout-riki-ellison-career-in-the-nfl-with-49ers/79180425007/
  15. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/riki-ellison_a-gift-from-god-who-graced-us-led-us-coached-activity-7262054750848798722-bsLF
  16. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-08-sp-292-story.html
  17. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/academics-and-innovation/about-academics-and-innovation-outreach/usc-and-mdaa-partnership/
  18. https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/riki-ellison-in-my-opinion/
  19. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-v-san-francisco-49ers-kiwi-linebacker-riki-ellison-reflects-on-super-bowl-wins-with-49ers/ZQFMKXMCOJB5VJWCUKP7DO4IPU/
  20. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/04/Raiders-sign-Ellison/3829641793600/
  21. https://www.footballdb.com/players/riki-ellison-ellisri01
  22. https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-ellisrik001
  23. https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/2896-twelve-years-after-football-ellison-still-tackling-defense/
  24. https://usctrojans.com/news/2001/4/25/former_trojan_linebacker_takes_command_of_titans.aspx
  25. https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/10/15/does-anyone-remember-the-titans-the-desegregation-of-tc-williams-high-in-1971-led-to-a-state-football-title-and-a-disney-movie-thirty-years-later-all-that-progress-has-been-reversed-what-happened
  26. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/09/22/drill/776935b7-7e9e-4450-aab4-5be4f0910582/
  27. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/03/13/ellison-leaves-tc-williams/c042b93e-4252-4362-8a25-0da956efae42/
  28. https://www.youthimpactprogram.org/about-us/
  29. https://hawaii.edu/news/2022/08/02/1st-youth-impact-program-for-girls/
  30. https://www.youthimpactprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/YIP-2019-Annual-Report.pdf
  31. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Final-Transcript-The-Missile-Defense-Must-Do-List-for-the-FY-24-NDAA.pdf
  32. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/090418mdaaspacedefense.pdf
  33. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/resources/alerts-archive/23283-2/nevada-testimonials-in-support-of-senate-joint-resolution-7/
  34. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/12-April-RR-full-length-v2-2-1.pdf
  35. https://spacenews.com/thaad-intercept-demonstrates-confidence-in-missile-defense/
  36. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/international-cooperation/
  37. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/alert/boost-phase-missile-defense-from-space-highlights-and-transcript/
  38. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The-Space-Layer-Hypersonic-and-Ballistic-Missile-Tracking-Space-Satellites.pdf
  39. https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2024/05/usc-shield-innovates-security-for-land-earth-and-beyond/
  40. https://news.engineering.arizona.edu/news/ua-engineering-establishes-partnership-institute-near-space-studies
  41. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/01/16/space-science-initiative-mou/
  42. https://breakingdefense.com/2022/02/no-us-missile-defense-system-proven-capable-against-realistic-icbm-threats-study/
  43. https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/current-us-missile-defense-programs-glance
  44. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2002-12/debunking-missile-defense-agencys-endgame-success-argument
  45. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/resources/bmd-overview/
  46. https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/missile-defense-review-the-united-states
  47. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL31111.html
  48. https://www.cissm.umd.edu/sites/default/files/2025-07/The%2520motivations%2520and%2520unintended%2520consequences%2520of%2520the%2520US%2520pursuit%2520of%2520missile%2520defense.pdf
  49. https://spacenews.com/hubble-bubble-toil-and-trouble-stirring-up-an-arms-race-in-space/
  50. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/about/
  51. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/COMING-FULL-CIRCLE-Portola-Valley-mother-uses-3240093.php
  52. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Former-49er-follows-his-calling-missile-2719569.php
  53. https://tristatevoice.com/2021/11/20/first-and-goal-former-new-york-giants-te-rhett-ellison-is-new-director-of-bergen-fca/
  54. https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-alumni-riki-ellison-to-be-inducted-into-polynesian-football-hall--17869607
  55. https://www.dinfos.dma.mil/About/DINFOS-Hall-of-Fame/Hall-of-Fame-2023/?videoid=192028&dvpTag=Ellison
  56. https://maorisportsawards.co.nz/portfolio/riki-ellison/
  57. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-30-sp-ellison30-story.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.