Watch: Ebron scores first rushing TD for Steelers, third of his career
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On Sunday Night football, in the primetime matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, one player did something no other player at his position had done – per Pro Football Reference – in Steelers franchise history: rush for a touchdown.
With just over four minutes left in the first half of the game, the Steelers offense took possession of the ball and executed an fourteen play, 84-yard drive for a touchdown. It was how that drive ended, however, that was a pleasant surprise.
A short pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Chase Claypool and a short run play from Najee Harris forced Seattle to call back-to-back timeouts. On second-and-goal, Harris was stopped short of the end zone.
Dialing up a little redirection, tight end Eric Ebron lined up on the right, with Harris in the backfield. As soon as Roethlisberger snapped the ball, the offensive line pushed right, Ebron took the ball on the sweep left, as Harris and Big Ben worked the fake. The play worked beautifully.
Ebron was able to scramble and then vault over the Seattle defender to score his third career rushing touchdown and the first rushing touchdown by a Steelers tight end.
Ebron, who has been hot and cold this season in the passing game, showed his athleticism as the Steelers utilized a three tight end formation; Zach Gentry was lined up at the right end of the line while Pat Freiermuth stacked the left end of the line. Fullback Derek Watt was also lined up just off the line to the left. The Seahawks defense bit on the possibility of a run to the right or fade, then reacted as the line pulled.
Over his eight seasons in the NFL, Ebron had only attempted four rushes, accumulating negative-seven combined yards, but earned two touchdowns. For Pittsburgh on Sunday, he earned the third score on his fifth attempt, and gave the Steelers a 14-0 lead before heading into the locker room at the half.
Upon statistical analysis, a handful of Steelers tight ends in past seasons have successfully attempted rushing plays but there were no recorded touchdowns.
