Elijah Arroyo: The Journey of a Rising Star in the NFL

Photography by Kyle J Yunker, Zero Five Photography (floral outfit by Anatome; sunglasses by Urban Eyes; )

It’s easy to look at a professional athlete and see only the highlight reels, the stadium lights, and the polished post-game interviews. What we often forget is that every journey begins far from the roar of the crowd. Long before Elijah Arroyo became a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks, before he wore The U across his chest in Miami, and before the cameras and the combine, he was just a boy with a dream and a question that mattered more than anything else in the world.

A Dream Takes Root

At just seven years old, fresh off a move from Miami to Mexico, all he could think to ask his mother was, “Can I still play football?”

The answer was yes. She found him a team. In that moment, a child’s unwavering devotion to the game took root—a devotion that would go on to shape the man, the player, and the relentless competitor he is today.

“Playing over there was really the first real brotherhood I was a part of,” Elijah reflects on his early years. “It taught me to play for each other, for the man next to you. That was the biggest lesson for me.”

Defying the Noise

There’s something about Elijah Arroyo that defies the noise. He’s calm, measured, and self-aware. Not flashy, but every word he speaks is weighted with thoughtfulness, carrying something bigger than himself.

After five formative years in Mexico, Elijah returned to the United States to complete his schooling and continue playing football in Texas—a state where the game is treated like religion. Those Friday nights under the lights prepared him for the next step, a homecoming that felt like fate. Committing to the University of Miami, his dream school, meant stepping into the same program his family had celebrated for generations, where legends like Sean Taylor and Ray Lewis had built their legacies.

“Miami was always my dream school,” he says. “Going in, my goal was to bring the U back. I wanted to bring back the old mentality, the way those guys played—tough, relentless, proud.” For Elijah, it was never just about wearing the jersey. It was about honoring the past and helping to write the next great chapter.

Overcoming Adversity

His time at Miami wasn’t easy. Elijah’s college career was marked by injuries—big ones. Season-threatening, dream-deferring ones. But the fire never went out. “I learned to be poised and mentally tough,” he explains. “You get to a point where you really have to be almost delusional about yourself. I didn’t really have much film coming into this year, but I told myself, ‘This is going to be my last year, and I’m going to be in the draft next year.’”

Suit by American Bespoke; sunglasses by Urban Eyes;

The Draft Weekend

It worked. When draft weekend arrived, Elijah was surrounded by his people—his family from Miami, his friends from Texas, and his community from all corners of his life. “It was one of the best weekends of my life,” he says. “It felt unreal.”

That word, unreal, comes up often with Elijah. Not because he takes things for granted, but because he never stops appreciating the gravity of the moment.

At every stage, he’s had something to prove, but only to one person: himself. “I want to prove to myself that I can go up against the best of the best and still be productive,” he shares. “I always feel like I’ve got something to prove, but not to the people, to myself.”

Embracing Seattle

Seattle has welcomed him with open arms—the coaching staff, the players, and the city. He’s soaking it all in, eager to be a sponge, hungry to grow. While fans know Elijah can run routes with the best of them, he wants more. “I want to be a dominant tight end in the run game too,” he asserts. “If I can watch game one and then watch game 17 and see a big improvement, I’ll be satisfied.”

That’s the thing about Elijah: he’s not chasing perfection. He’s chasing evolution.

The Fighter Within

Still, there’s a fighter in him—quiet but undeniable. “Nobody’s going to give it to you,” he says of his journey. “You’ve got a goal? You want to achieve it? You go get it.”

Jacket by Sole & Style; dress shirt by Rodd & Gunn; pants by Carhartt; sunglasses by Urban Eyes; travel bag by Anatome

Beyond the Field

Off the field, Elijah’s got layers. He loves to fish, speaks fluent Spanish, and has a genuine passion for fashion. “I just always be myself,” he states simply. He’s thoughtful about legacy—not just how he plays, but how he makes people feel. “I hope they say I was a great guy off the field and a dog on the field. Somebody you would not want to play against.”

Looking Ahead

And what about five years from now? Without flinching, Elijah answers: “I will be the best tight end in Seahawks franchise history. Or at least in the race for it.”

Maybe that’s what makes Elijah Arroyo so magnetic. He isn’t promising the spotlight; he’s promising the work. He’s betting on himself again and again—in the quiet, in the injuries, in the small victories, and in the wide-open future that lies ahead.

If there’s one lesson to take from his story, it’s this: the path doesn’t have to be loud to be legendary.

Special thanks to the team at First Light Condominiums for allowing New Face to shoot this year's featured Seahawks there.

Team credits:

Photography by Kyle J Yunker, Zero Five Photography

Styling by Polly Cocilobo

Creative Directing by Chele Sellman