The O.G. Panther
Elflein went to Pickerington High School North, the home of the Panthers, or just "North" to those in Pickerington, Ohio. He was an All-State performer in football, wrestling, and track & field.
Elflein was also high school teammates with free agent tight end Jake Butt (most recently with the Broncos). When it came time for their college decisions, the two friends made quite a departure, with Elflein heading to Ohio State and Butt choosing rival Michigan.
Position Flexibility
At Ohio State, Elflein started off at left guard, moved to right guard, and then finished his senior campaign as a center, winning the Rimington Award for best college center in 2016.
He then took the opposite track in the NFL, starting off as a center for the Vikings and then transitioning to left guard in 2019 and right guard in 2020. In his first season, he earned PFWA All-Rookie honors and helped the Vikings rank second in the NFL in completion percentage.
Big Game Experience
In Elflein's career, he's played in a number of big games. At Ohio State from 2013-16, he saw action in the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, two College Football semifinals and one national championship game, winning a title in 2014.
He then played in four playoff games with the Vikings, including the "Miracle in Minneapolis" win over the Saints, and 2017 NFC Championship game.
Injuries
Unfortunately, Elflein had to battle through some physical issues during his time in Minnesota. He injured his ankle in the second half of the 2017 NFC Championship game and had to miss two games to start the next season in 2018.
Then in 2020, he suffered a thumb injury at the start of the season and was placed on IR. After eventually getting cleared in November, the Vikings waived him and he finished the season with the Jets, playing in just seven total games last season.
Competing with the T-Mo spike?
In 2020, it became a tradition for Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton to spike the ball after nearly every touchdown. Does Moton have some competition on the horizon? Look at this form!
View photos of offensive lineman Pat Elflein during his years with Minnesota (2017-20) and the New York Jets (2020).
New York Jets offensive lineman Pat Elflein is pictured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 40-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
New York Jets guard Pat Elflein (67) during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New York Jets offensive lineman Pat Elflein is pictured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 40-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Minnesota Vikings guard Pat Elflein in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
San Francisco 49ers' Earl Mitchell, left, is blocked by Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Pat Elflein during an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Pat Elflein (65) gets set on the line during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Pat Elflein (65) blocks against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Pat Elflein gets set for a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Bears won 24-10. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 in Philadelphia. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein (65) gets set to hick to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum (7) against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein walks on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein gets set to snap the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein (65) gets set for a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Minneapolis. The Lions won 14-7. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, right, takes a snap from Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein during the NFL football team practice Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in Eden Prairie, Minn. AP Photo/Jim Mone)
