# Shorty Elness

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**Leland Bartlett "Shorty" Elness** (May 10, 1906 – November 3, 1965) was an American [football](/source/American_football) [halfback](/source/Running_back) and [quarterback](/source/Quarterback) who played one season in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) for the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for [Bradley](/source/Bradley_Braves_football).

## Early life and education

Elness was born on May 10, 1906, in [Windom, Minnesota](/source/Windom,_Minnesota). He attended [Windom High School](/source/Windom_High_School) there, before playing [college football](/source/College_football) at [Bradley](/source/Bradley_Braves_football). Though he did not see action as a [freshman](/source/Freshman), he made the varsity team as a [sophomore](/source/Sophomore) in 1926.[1] At five feet, eight inches tall, Elness was nicknamed "Shorty" by teammates. As a senior, he was considered the team's top player, earning first-team all-conference honors at the end of the season by *[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press)*.[2] He later was named conference [Most Valuable Player](/source/Most_Valuable_Player).[3] His profile in *Associated Press* said the following:

Leland Elness, another outstanding backfield man developed by Robertson, and a running mate to Metzger, was given the honorary position of right halfback. "Shorty" Elness possesses a rare ability in forward passing. His tosses, instead of arching as in the case of a majority of passes, travel an uncanny bullet-like path. His only rival in this art probably was Sandstrom, Augustana [fullback](/source/Fullback_(gridiron_football)), who failed to receive enough votes for a position. Elness' abilities were not, however, confined to forward passing. He was a cracker-jack in breaking up opposition aerial attacks, and could skirt the ends for a 5 or 10-yard gain at any time.[2]

## Professional career

After his MVP season, Elness was signed to play professional football by the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). As a member of the Bears, he appeared in four games as a halfback and quarterback, wearing number 11.[4] He played the 1930 season as a member of the semi-professional [Milwaukee Badgers/Eagles](/source/Milwaukee_Badgers), scoring a touchdown in a game versus the Chicago Mills.[5]

## Later life and death

After his playing career Elness became a teacher in [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), and was named [Charles City High School](/source/Charles_City_High_School) industrial arts teacher and assistant athletics coach in 1942.[6] He later was director of the trades industries and instructor in cabinet making. He died on November 3, 1965, in [Charles City, Iowa](/source/Charles_City,_Iowa), from a [heart attack](/source/Heart_attack). He was 59 at the time of his death.[7]

## References

1. ["Shorty Elness Stats"](https://www.profootballarchives.com/playere/elne00200.html). *Pro Football Archives*

1. Wilson, Brawford O. (December 3, 1928). ["Press Group's All-Little 19 Eleven Picked"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89504158/the-rock-island-argus/). *[The Rock Island Argus](/source/The_Rock_Island_Argus)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Elness Wins Award"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89504210/the-pantagraph/). *[The Pantagraph](/source/The_Pantagraph)*. December 17, 1928. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Shorty Elness Stats"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElneSh20.htm). *[Pro-Football-Reference.com](/source/Pro-Football-Reference.com)*

1. ["Badgers Beat Chicago Mills"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89504264/the-sheboygan-press/). *[The Sheboygan Press](/source/The_Sheboygan_Press)*. October 20, 1930. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Leland Elness Joins Coaching Staff At Charles City High"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89503722/the-courier/). *[The Courier](/source/The_Waterloo-Cedar_Falls_Courier)*. August 14, 1942. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Charles City teacher dies of heart attack"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89503768/obituary-for-leland-b-llness-aged-59/). *[Globe-Gazette](/source/Globe_Gazette)*. November 3, 1965. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

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