He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.

[6] As a junior in 2013, Ebron caught 62 passes for 973 yards and three touchdowns, and was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection.

Multiple NFL draft experts stated Ebron looked poor in his positional drills and highlighted the drops as a cause for concern.

[12][13] Ebron attended pre-draft visits with multiple teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers.

[14] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Ebron was projected to be among the first 20 players selected by NFL draft experts and scouts.

[18] Ebron was the first tight end drafted and became the eighth highest selection from North Carolina in school history.

[19] He also became the highest tight end to be drafted by the Lions in franchise history, surpassing David Lewis (20th overall, 1985) and Brandon Pettigrew (20th overall, 2009), although he has since been supplanted by T. J. Hockenson (8th overall, 2019)[20] On June 13, 2014, the Lions signed Ebron to a fully guaranteed four-year, $12.49 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $7.22 million.

[21] Throughout training camp, Ebron competed to be a starting tight end against Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria.

[22][23] Head coach Jim Caldwell named Ebron the third tight end on the depth chart, behind Pettigrew and Fauria, to begin the regular season.

On September 28, 2014, Ebron made three receptions for 34-yards and caught his first career touchdown during a 24–17 win at the New York Jets in Week 4.

[28] Caldwell retained Ebron as the backup tight end to Pettigrew to start the regular season.

[35] On November 20, 2016, Ebron made three catches for 70-yards and scored his first career rushing touchdown on a one-yard carry during the fourth quarter of a 26–19 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11.

[38] On January 7, 2017, Ebron started in his first career playoff game in the Wild Card Round, catching two passes for 23 yards as the Lions lost to the Seahawks by 26–6.

[41] On December 10, 2017, Ebron caught a season-high ten passes for 94-yards during a 24–21 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14.

[46] Head coach Frank Reich named Ebron the backup tight end, behind Jack Doyle, to begin the regular season.

[51] The following game, Ebron returned to his role as the de facto starting tight end after Doyle sustained a kidney injury and was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season on November 26, 2018.

[57] On January 5, 2019, Ebron started in his first playoff game for the Colts and caught three passes for 26 yards and scored one touchdown in the 21–7 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round.

[69] In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Cleveland Browns, Ebron recorded seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown during the 48–37 loss.