Pat Elflein

BIOGRAPHY

Pat Elflein was born July 6, 1994, in Pickerington, Ohio. He is a guard in the NFL. 

Elflein redshirted his first year at Ohio State in 2012 due to a foot injury. Elflein was one of only two starters returning in 2015 and served as a captain for the 2016 season, his senior season in which he won the Rimington Trophy and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. He graduated with a communications degree and finished his career as a graduate student, and prior to receiving his degree, he earned three OSU Scholar-Athlete awards and one Academic All-Big Ten Conference honor. He was a first-team All-Big Ten in each of his final three seasons.

Elflein was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Elflein entered his rookie season as the Vikings starting center, starting 14 games and missing two due to a shoulder injury. Following an impressive rookie season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. After undergoing shoulder and ankle surgeries, Elflein missed the first three games of the 2018 season. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 4 at center and remained there the rest of the season. In 2019, Elflein was moved to left guard after the Vikings drafted Garrett Bradbury in the first round of the 2019 draft to play center. In 2020, Elflein was moved over to right guard. He played one game for the Vikings before he suffered a thumb injury in practice and was placed on injured reserve on September 17, 2020. He was activated on November 13 but was waived the next day. 

Elflein was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on November 16, 2020. Elflein started the final six games of the season for the Jets at left guard after Alex Lewis was injured.

On March 17, 2021, Elflein signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.

On July 25, 2023, Elflein signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He was placed on injured reserve on August 28, 2023.