Rikki Ellison

Actor · b. 1960 · Christchurch, New Zealand

Riki Ellison is a former NFL linebacker, missile defense advocate, and youth mentor who has made significant impacts in multiple fields. Born in New Zealand, Ellison played college football at the University of Southern California, where he won a National Championship and two Rose Bowls following a State High School Football Championship in Arizona. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations with an emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from USC in 1983. Ellison played professional football for 10 years as a starting middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, winning three Super Bowl championships. He made history as the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first to win a Super Bowl. In 2017, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. After his football career, Ellison founded the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance in 2002, becoming a leading expert voice on missile defense globally. In 2006, he established the Youth Impact Program, which serves disadvantaged and at-risk adolescent boys in inner cities across America. The program has impacted nearly 4,000 at-risk youth and has been recognized twice by the United States Congress for its achievements and innovation.