Following the 2009 season, Ellis was released in March of 2010, and has not played professionally since then. Ellis earned AP and PFWA NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors during the 2007 season, the first and only season in his career during which he was honored as an All-Pro. Ellis finished his pro playing career with 394 tackles, 84 quarterback sacks, and four interceptions through 176 games. He also forced 23 fumbles and recovered ten of them. Ellis is married to high school sweetheart, Tangie Love, and they have three children together.