CARDS: Score 1990 Supplemental, Score 1991, Pro Set 1989
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Work
SENT: 1/30/23 RECEIVED: 2/26/24 (392 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

• Riki Ellison played college ball at USC where underwent 4 knee surgeries- which caused him to be overlooked or removed from many draft day boards.
• A 5th round find by the San Fransisco 49ers in 1983.
• Led the team in tackles in two of his first 3 seasons.
• Had career high 106 tackles in ’85.
• Had 10 tackles and 2 picks in ’83 playoff victory over Detroit Lions.
• Missed most of ’87 season with a broken forearm.
• Broke arm in final preseason game of ’89 and missed entire season.
• Signed by the Los Angeles Raiders as a free agent in 1990.
• Immediately led all Raiders LB’s in tackles over the next two seasons.
• Retired after the 1992 campaign.

ACCOLADES:

• All Rookie Team 1983
• Polynesian Sports Hall of Fame 2017

NOTES:

Riki is probably the first player of Maori and from New Zealand that I’ve gotten the autograph of. He was signing at a pretty quick clip at the end of ’22, but I had to wait a bit over a year for this one. He’s got a great autograph! Riki appeared with other 49ers as backup singers on two Huey Lewis and the News songs.