Tight end Eric Ebron joins the Steelers to win

PITTSBURGH — New Steelers tight end Eric Ebron took some time to talk to the media from his home in Houston, Texas on Thursday.

First and foremost, Ebron talked about his reason for picking the Steelers, in very glowing terms.

“I mean it’s Pittsburgh Steelers. I feel like it’s like one of those iconic historic organizations that you know if you’re lucky enough to play for and the opportunity presents itself, you don’t turn it down,” Ebron said. “Not only that, I mean I’ve always loved Ben Roethlisberger, so it’s kind of just was a thing that it was an opportunity to play with an elite quarterback and it’s kind of where it led me.”

Roethlisberger and Ebron met during a marriage conference in January, so they already have a bit of a connection.

"I just really want to be if I can be his best friend, how I was to Andrew (Luck), how I was in his ear and in his pocket. Just trying to figure out the game through their lenses, because they’re elite minds at this level,” he said.

Some of the qualities Ebron likes about Roethlisberger include how he said Ben willed his way to greatness, won Super Bowls and played through injury. Playing through injury is a point of contention for Ebron during his time last season with the Colts, where his season was cut short due to an ankle injury. He expects to be 100 percent when football resumes.

“Nobody knows the specifics it’s not for me to explain. I had an injury since August, and I played through the injury up until the time I couldn’t do it any longer. That was my choice for my health standpoint and leaned upon nobody else. I went and told them I was making that choice a week before I made the choice. It was well thought out, well known about, but it’s not my job to explain the story. I was hurt, and nobody likes to play hurt," he said.

Ebron was most sold on the team from his conversation with head coach Mike Tomlin.

“Mike Tomlin pretty much told me that he was going to put me in the best possible situation to succeed in my abilities. That is all I needed to hear is that he believed in my abilities and the things that I can do," he said.

Above all, Ebron’s biggest motivation is winning.

“It’s less about the money or what I could have done. It’s about winning. I hate losing I just want to win. I want to do something big. It’s time, it’s the reason we all play this game is to win, and to win Super Bowls, I feel like it’s time,” he said.

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