Eric Ebron, the former Detroit Lions first-round pick, has officially announced his retirement from the NFL.

The tight end, selected. 10th overall in the 2014 draft, shared the news on Instagram, reflecting on his career with a series of photos from his time at North Carolina to his final seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ebron wrote, “A career is a career!! I’m proud of me! Thankful for everyone along this journey.”

During his four seasons with the Lions (2014-2017), he played 56 games, recording 186 catches for 2,070 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His standout year in Detroit came in 2016, when he finished with 61 receptions, 711 yards, and one touchdown.

Drafting Ebron at No. 10 overall was met with skepticism, as many believed the Lions should have selected other players, particularly defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who became a Hall of Fame-caliber star with the Rams. Instead, the Lions passed on Donald, who went two picks later.

The Lions released Ebron in March 2018, and he quickly signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

There, he had his best season in 2018, earning his only Pro Bowl selection after recording 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He played one more season in Indianapolis before moving to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he had a productive 2020 season, registering 56 catches for 558 yards and five touchdowns.

However, in 2021, Ebron struggled with injuries and was only able to play in eight games, totaling 12 catches for 84 yards and one touchdown. After that season, he was effectively out of the NFL, spending nearly three years without playing in a game.

Though Ebron’s career didn’t live up to the lofty expectations set by his high draft status, his journey through the NFL for eight seasons is still a notable achievement. Despite the “bust” label attached to his time in Detroit, his retirement marks the end of a solid, if somewhat underwhelming, career.