As a homegrown player, Elliott was popular with fans. He was known for his committed style, intelligent positional play, and reliability. While not the flashiest full-back, he had a dependable engine and was capable of joining attacks when needed. His versatility meant he was often used on either side of defence, or even in midfield when required. Under manager Kevin Keegan, Elliott became a more regular part of the squad as Newcastle earned promotion to the Premier League in the 1992/93 season, finishing first in the First Division (second tier). Elliott contributed with 32 appearances in all competitions during that campaign, providing defensive solidity as part of a side that played an exciting, attacking brand of football.

In the Premier League, Elliott remained an important squad member during the early-mid 1990s, as Newcastle earned a reputation as the 'Entertainers' under Keegan. Though not always first-choice — competing with the likes of John Beresford and Steve Watson — he featured regularly across multiple positions and was valued for his work ethic and adaptability. Between 1991 and 1997, Elliott made 79 league appearances and scored 7 goals for Newcastle. One of his most memorable strikes was a thunderous winner against Leicester City in 1996 at St James’ Park..

In 1997, Elliott moved to Bolton Wanderers for a club-record £2.5 million under manager Colin Todd. His time at Bolton was cut short by a leg-break on his debut, but he recovered to help them earn promotion back to the Premier League, combining grit and determination with dependable defending. A return to Newcastle followed in 2001, under Sir Bobby Robson’s second spell — Elliott became a valued squad member, adding another 63 league appearances before departing in 2006.

Following release from Newcastle in summer 2006, Elliott signed with Sunderland, but after just seven Championship appearances, he became disillusioned with limited opportunity. In January 2007, he joined Leeds United — finally agreeing his childhood club move on January 1st, under manager Dennis Wise. He described it as his proudest moment, noting many family members lived in Leeds and that Elland Road had always been an intimidating stadium even from the stands.

Elliott debuted in the dramatic 2–1 home win over Coventry City on New Year’s Day 2007 — Leeds’ first victory since late November and a brief spark in a dismal campaign. He started in central defence, booting his way into the Elland Road line-up amidst a squad in crisis. That result provided hope, but injuries soon followed — Elliott tore his hamstring in mid-January, was sidelined until March, and then suffered a cracked disc in his back, further limiting his availability during a relegation fight.

Despite his personal setbacks, Elliott managed to make seven Championship appearances plus two as a substitute, and featured in an FA Cup-tie in that half-season. Injuries prevented him from becoming a regular even in a thin squad. One of his final outings was on April 28, 2007 against Ipswich Town, when he replaced Eddie Lewis and helped secure a 1–1 draw, though the result meant Leeds edged closer to relegation.

Off the field, Elliott was philosophical. He described Leeds’ 2006/07 season as 'truly bizarre', lamenting that none inside came to terms with how deep the club’s problems were until it was too late. He reflected warmly on team-mates like Shaun Derry, Gary Kelly, Alan Thompson, and former big names like Tore André Flo, acknowledging the squad had quality — but collapsed under chaos and poor administration.

Leeds were relegated to League One for the first time in their history, and Elliott’s contract expired at season’s end. While he had hoped to re-sign, the club’s financial mess and administration prevented it — and he ultimately joined Hartlepool United in July 2007, declining a return to Newcastle or staying at Leeds amid turmoil.

Following his time at Leeds, Elliott spent a season with Hartlepool (making 15 league appearances) before retiring at the end of the year. He transitioned seamlessly into coaching and performance roles: returning to Newcastle in mid-2008 as assistant fitness and conditioning coach, then later serving as a Youth National Team Performance Expert with the US Soccer Federation from 2009 onwards.

Elliott arrived at Leeds during one of the darkest periods in the club's history. The 2006/07 campaign saw relegation looming from early on, with consistent defeats, managerial instability, and declining morale. A succession of emergency loan signings and free transfers were deployed in a bid to salvage form. Despite squad quality on paper, off-the-pitch breakdowns prevailed.

Within that environment, Elliott brought the traits he had been known for across his career — reliability, honesty, professionalism. In interviews, he expressed disbelief at how quickly the situation deteriorated at Leeds, noting that training facilities and squad morale couldn’t mask the rot that eventually led to relegation.

Though injury limited him, his performances in the few matches he appeared in were steady. He started in high-pressure games, attempted to shore up a shaky defence, and adapted quickly to new team-mates, systems, and a club under severe strain. That adaptability and commitment earned him respect from supporters, even if he could not prevent the inevitable outcome.