The big lineman played college ball as a walk-on at Maine and became the team MVP in his senior year playing center. Drafted by the Giants, but released during the exhibition season he played semi-pro with the North Attleboro Jewellers, coached by Sammy Baugh, for $25 per game where he became close friends with QB Butch Songin (who received $350 per game) an ex-Ticat quarterback. In an effort to get more time he also played with the competing Brocton team, using an alias. With the advent of the AFL Ellis had the opportunity to play 3 full seasons in the AFL with the New York Jets/Titans from 1960-1962. He was released one game into the 1963 season signed with the Alouettes on October 25, 1963. Capable of playing a number of positions, Ellis settled in at linebacker in the CFL, playing just one game with the Larks in 1963 before moving on to Saskatchewan in 1964 and playing three early season games for the Roughriders. In September of that year he returned to Montreal as an assistant coach. He signed with the Portland Sea Hawks of the Continental Football League shortly after that and in 1966 he played with the Charter Oaks of the same league.
After leaving football, Ellis joined the US Secret Service and was assigned to vice president Spiro Agnew’s detail.
Ellis was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in in 1988.
Roger Ellis passed away on May 14, 2008.
[Bio by Wes Cross]
Roger Ellis Returns to Maine - August 23, 1985
[CFL Stats to be added]
