The Edmonton Elks released defensive lineman Kony Ealy on Tuesday.
Kony Ealy is six foot four and weighs 275 pounds. The 31-year-old from New Madrid, Missouri, made 18 tackles and four sacks in 15 games for the Elks in 2023. Ealy played two seasons in Edmonton with 26 tackles and six sacks in 21 games. In 2021, he played for the Toronto Argonauts with four tackles and one sack in two games.
Before Edmonton, Ealy was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (60th pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Carolina with 76 tackles (42 solo, 34 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, one interception, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 23 quarterback hits in 47 games, of which 15 were starts for the Panthers.
In 2020, Ealy played for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) with nine tackles (5 solo, 4 assists), two tackles for loss, and half a sack in four games, of which three were starts.
Next, Ealy was traded to the New England Patriots on March 10, 2017. Five months later, he was dealt to the New York Jets. Ealy played one season for the Jets with 14 tackles (11 solo, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, and three quarterback hits in 15 games, of which four were starts. After the Jets, he went to the Oakland Raiders in 2018 with two tackles (2 solo) in three games.
Collegiately, Ealy played three seasons at Missouri (2011-13) with 96 tackles (56 solo, 40 assists), 28 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception for 49 yards, one touchdown, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 13 pass breakups in 37 games for the Tigers. He was named First Team All-SEC in 2013.
