Former Steelers Tight End Eric Ebron Reveals What It Truly Took To Earn Ben Roethlisberger’s Trust

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had plenty of talented offensive players come through the building, but playing with Ben Roethlisberger was never as simple as just showing up and expecting the football. Former Steelers tight end Eric Ebron learned that quickly during his time in Pittsburgh.

Ebron arrived in Pittsburgh in 2020 after spending time with the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts. He had already been a Pro Bowl player and a productive red zone threat, but joining Roethlisberger’s offense came with a different kind of challenge. It was not just about learning the playbook. It was about earning Roethlisberger’s trust.

Ebron recently explained via the Not Just Football podcast that Roethlisberger was not the easiest quarterback to figure out right away.

"Ben’s a complicated person… I stayed at Ben’s house. I was in Ben’s ear. I would ask him a lot of questions," Ebron explained.

That quote gives a pretty honest look at what it took to build a relationship with Roethlisberger. Ebron did not just rely on his résumé. He made a point to be around him, ask questions and understand what the veteran quarterback wanted from him.

That matters because Roethlisberger had been in Pittsburgh for nearly two decades by the time Ebron got there. He had played with elite weapons, won Super Bowls and built chemistry with several different types of pass catchers. A new player was not going to instantly walk into that offense and become one of his trusted targets.

Ebron seemed to understand that. He knew Roethlisberger’s trust had to be earned, not assumed. That is an important distinction for any player joining a veteran quarterback, especially one who had as much control and experience as Roethlisberger did.

The Steelers’ 2020 offense had plenty of targets. JuJu Smith-Schuster was still a major part of the passing game. Diontae Johnson was becoming a bigger piece of the offense. Chase Claypool was a rookie with big-play ability. Ebron was entering a crowded group, and Roethlisberger was the one deciding where the football went.

That is why Ebron’s approach mattered. He was not just trying to be another option. He was trying to figure out how Roethlisberger thought, what he liked, and what would make him comfortable throwing the ball in key situations.

Ebron said there was still one simple thing that mattered most.

"That’s really all you had to do for Ben to get on Ben’s good side was make plays. And once I started making plays, that’s when I got invited to the porch talk," said Ebron.

That sounds exactly like the Roethlisberger many Steelers fans remember. He valued relationships, but production mattered. If a player made plays when given opportunities, Roethlisberger was more likely to come back to him. If that player did not, the trust could disappear quickly.

That was especially true late in Roethlisberger’s career. He did not have the same mobility or arm strength that defined the earlier part of his time in Pittsburgh, so timing and trust became even more important. He needed receivers and tight ends to be where they were supposed to be. He needed them to make contested catches. He needed them to understand the moment.

Ebron gave the Steelers a useful piece in 2020. He was not perfect, but he did become part of the offense. Ebron caught 56 passes for 558 yards and five touchdowns during his first season in Pittsburgh. That production showed why Roethlisberger kept giving him opportunities.

It also showed why Ebron’s comments are worth paying attention to now. Fans often look at quarterback-receiver chemistry as something that just happens. In reality, it takes time, communication and proof. Ebron had to work his way into Roethlisberger’s circle.

Roethlisberger has spoken before about the importance of offensive leadership, and Ebron’s comments add another layer to that conversation. Pittsburgh’s offense during that era was built on more than scheme. It was built on trust between veteran players who understood the standard.

Steelers Needed Trust Before Targets Came

That is what made Roethlisberger different. He was not going to throw the ball to someone just because of a name, contract or draft status. A player had to prove he could be dependable when the game got tight.

For Ebron, that meant asking questions, being around Roethlisberger and then backing it up on the field. Once he started making plays, the relationship changed. The “porch talk” line is a small detail, but it says a lot. That was not just about football. That was about being accepted.

The Steelers have been searching for that kind of offensive connection again in the years since Roethlisberger retired. It is not easy to recreate. Chemistry like that does not come from one practice, one offseason or one good game.

Ebron got a close look at what it took. His message is clear. With Roethlisberger, trust was complicated, but the path was simple. Ask questions, stay close, make plays and earn your way in.