'Now I got people at home every day': Family life changes view for Browns' Jordan Elliott

BEREA − There was the Jordan Elliott of his first two seasons with the Browns. That Jordan Elliott, though, was a different one than the person who's now in his third season.

Person, that's the key word. That's because, as Elliott reflects how he's grown as a professional, he can't help but look at how he's grown as a person.

"I got a family now," Elliott told the Beacon Journal this week. "I got a wife and kids. That also changed my perspective on how I looked at things. It's not just my mom and dad, now I got people at home every day."

The life as a newlywed − he and his wife Symmone were married in March − and a father has altered everything for Elliott. It obviously created a new dynamic for him away from the team facility.

It also served as an accelerant for Elliott personally.

"It makes you grow up fast," Elliott said. "It forces you to because you want to leave something for your kids, have something for them. I'm in a position where I can do that. I don't want to throw that away. That was the biggest thing, it's for them. That's how I look at it."

Bond between Jordan Elliott and defensive line coach Chris Kiffin

Defensive line coach Chris Kiffin has his own family, so he certainly understands the dynamic. It was his own wife and, specifically, four children who were the onus behind him returning to the Browns in the offseason after initially joining his brother Lane's staff at the University of Mississippi.

It's not just the big-picture view that is gained. It's how the little things come so much more into focus.

"It is life-changing for a lot of people," Kiffin said. "For me, personally, it was. You really start to appreciate the smaller things in life, the small things. Again, I was a lot older when I had my kids, but Jordan and we just had [rookie defensive end] Isaiah Thomas with a child, and I really do think it's eye-opening for them."

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Kiffin may be one coach who is perfectly positioned to note the transformation Elliott has gone though, particularly coming into this season. Obviously, there's the connection between the two just in a position coach-player relationship.

However, to Kiffin, there's an even-deeper bond that developed from two individuals who arrived in Cleveland at roughly the same time. Kiffin was hired with coach Kevin Stefanski's initial staff in the winter of 2020; that April, Elliott was taken in the third round of the draft with the 88th pick overall.

"Jordan is special to me in this group because we came in together at the same time," Kiffin said. "As a draft pick, he came in my first year, so I've seen the growth in all areas of his life. You just kind of see the maturity, the wisdom he starts to gain, the understanding. He got to learn from Sheldon Richardson and Malik Jackson and Larry Ogunjobi, so he really had some good guys to learn from."

Jordan Elliott among the elders in young Browns defensive line room

Now, in some ways, Elliott is one of those guys from which younger players can learn. The graybeards of the defensive line room remain the two former No. 1 overall picks at defensive end, Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, but it doesn't take long to get down to the 2020 draft pick in terms of age.

Taven Bryan, a fifth-year pro, was signed as a free agent during the offseason to provide a veteran defensive tackle presence. After Bryan, though, Elliott's the oldest among that group.

Elliott knows that's the case. He's not allowing that fact to add any more weight onto his shoulders.

"I'm just taking my role and doing it to the best of my ability," Elliott said. "I'm not really overthinking it, trying to put more pressure on me than what needs to be done. At the end of the day, when we go out there on a Sundays, you just do your jobs. That's all it is."

Strong start to season in opening win over Carolina Panthers

Elliott did his job well in the Browns' season-opening win at Carolina. He played 41 defensive snaps in the win, and although he only had one tackle and two hurries, he was still a key part of why the Browns defensive line was consistently able to push the line of scrimmage.

The Browns limited the Panthers to 2.8 yards on 19 attempts. The defensive line managed to deflected five of Baker Mayfield's passes.

"We did dictate that game," Elliott said. "There were some things we left on the table, of course. That's why, each week, you get a chance to grow and progress."

New Jordan Elliott became talk of Cleveland Browns training camp

Elliott is the poster child of "grow and progress." Kiffin noted near the end of the voluntary offseason program a completely different player, one who came in much better shape and with a much different hunger and attitude.

That carried into training camp, where teammates raved about Elliott's day-to-day work. Garrett, among others, even singled him out as a candidate for a big year.

Elliott appreciates the sentiments and support from those with whom he shares a locker room. He also acknowledges being a much more confident football player this season.

All of that, however, is idle chatter to Elliott.

"I just feel, I don't know, just a different level of, I guess, confidence coming into this season," Elliott said. "Being prepared, being ready and just knowing that, you know, nothing is enough. No matter what my teammates say or whatever the media says, man, I just gotta keep on grinding every week. I'm just taking it week-by-week, day-by-day, not really worried about what people are saying."

Everyone, that is, except those who are waiting for Elliott at home.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns' Jordan Elliott finds new focus with new family life