Free agent TE Eric Ebron still hopes to join Panthers

Free agent TE Eric Ebron, who has connections to Frank Reich and Jim Caldwell, still hopes the Panthers look his way for the 2023 season.

Some things haven’t changed since Eric Ebron tweeted this back on Aug. 17, 2022 . . .

Six months later, the Carolina Panthers still need help at the tight end position and this Greensboro, N.C. boy still wants to come home. But what has changed is who’s running the show in Charlotte, and that could bode rather well for Ebron’s chances.

On Friday night, the eight-year veteran made his hopes clear once again. With the hiring of John Lilly as the Panthers’ tight end coach, Ebron—also a former University of North Carolina Tar Heel—hit Twitter with another hint.

He’d then, on Saturday morning, be asked about his thoughts on the rest of the staff head coach Frank Reich has built. Here was his reply:

Well, Ebron has played for Frank. In fact, he was actually one of the first additions the Indianapolis Colts made after bringing Reich onboard as their head coach in 2018.

Ebron signed on in Indy to the tune of a two-year, $13 million pact. After starting that first 2018 campaign as the backup to Jack Doyle, he stepped up to have his best year as a pro—recording career-highs in receptions (66), receiving yards (750) and touchdowns (13).

Oh, and Ebron also played for Panthers senior assistant Jim Caldwell. In fact, he was the very first draft pick the Detroit Lions made after hiring Caldwell as head coach.

Caldwell and the Lions scooped Ebron up with the 10th overall selection of the 2014 draft. And just like Caldwell, he’d go on to spend four seasons in Detroit.

As for what Ebron has been up to lately, the soon-to-be 30-year-old spent 2022 nursing his knee injury. But now, he said he’s all healed up and ready to battle—perhaps on the home front.

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