Ex-Wildcat Eben Britton offers advice to NFL-bound Jordan Morgan, reflects on pro career

If there’s anyone who has the credentials to give Jordan Morgan advice about transitioning into the NFL, it’s Eben Britton.

Morgan, a former Arizona left tackle, is about to become the first UA offensive lineman drafted since Britton in 2009. Morgan could also become the first Arizona offensive lineman drafted in the first round since John Fina in 1992.

Following a four-year career at Arizona, where Britton was an All-Pac-10 selection under former head coach Mike Stoops in 2008, he was drafted 39th overall in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Upset by not landing in the first round, Britton said at the time, “I’m gonna work my ass off for the Jacksonville Jaguars and people are gonna regret it. ... Secondly, I’m gonna be the greatest offensive tackle to ever play this game.”

Britton carved out a six-year NFL career with the Jaguars and the Chicago Bears and last played in the NFL in 2014. Britton had an injury-free playing career until he played in the NFL, then the former Wildcat dealt with a herniated disc and a torn labrum that required season-ending surgery. As Morgan prepares for his NFL chapter, Britton’s biggest piece of advice is to “take good care of your body, take it slow at practice, take your time and become technician, be super-disciplined in your technique and learn how to manage your energy and power,” Britton said.

“Learn how to use it when it’s needed and when it’s not needed. God bless everyone going into the draft,” he added. “Jordan Morgan repping the (jersey) number 77, I love to see that, I loved his game, I loved watching him develop over the years. ... Enjoy every minute of it. You earned it, brother. You worked your ass off, you’re going to have to continue to work your ass off, but take it slow and take it one day at a time. ... Be humble, don’t be too hard on yourself and remember that you’re a human being, and just enjoy it, dude. ... To have that experience is a once-in-a-lifetime deal.”

Added Britton: “Just enjoy it, man, because it’s gone in an instant and then all of a sudden you’re me: you’re 10 years out of your career and you forget that played football some days. ... Coming out of football is no joke. That’s one thing that goes in one year and out the other, especially when you get into the NFL and everyone around you is saying, ‘You know what it stands for? Not for long.’”

Since Britton stepped away in 2014, “life after football has been quite a ride,” he said.

“We’re a decade since my last season in the NFL. ... Ten years from my last football season is wild to me when I put that into words,” Britton said.

Britton spent the early stages of his post-playing career “learning about who I am as a man underneath the pads, without the armor,” then transitioned into the content-creating realm and wrote a book, “The Eben Flow: Basic Tools To Transform Your Life,” which highlights his NFL career, his journey through overcoming injuries and finding purpose in life beyond the gridiron. Britton has also hosted a number of podcasts, including “Mindful Warrior,” “Hot Boxin’” with boxing legend Mike Tyson and “The Eben Flow.”

Britton joined ESPN Tucson’s “Spears and Ali” YouTube show last week to talk about playing in the NFL and memories at the UA. Here is a snippet of what was discussed:

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When did reality set in for you that you were playing in the NFL?

A: “That came during my first mini-camp, when my (expletive) head was spinning, dude. I had been playing tackle my entire life, I get drafted to Jacksonville and there was this thing in me where there wasn’t a whole lot of humility. ... There wasn’t a whole lot of humility because I believed it’s who I was and what I was going to do, so the getting to the NFL part, in my mind, was a sure thing. The realization hit and the gravity of what it meant happened during my first mini-camp when they said, ‘Hey, Eb, we’re going to have you play guard and tackle.’ I had to learn both positions. ... There’s nuances all over the place and there’s 25 different pass protections, 50 ways to run power, infinite ways to run trap, zone, inside and outside and everything in between. ... My head was (expletive) spinning.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do here?’ Really, my first mini camp and OTAs, I was so humbled that I thought surely everyone in this building is thinking, ‘Holy (expletive), we drafted a dud at 39th overall.’ ... I didn’t know which way to go.”

When did you feel like you belonged in the NFL?

A: “The feeling of ‘I belong here’ happened during my first start as a rookie in 2009. My teammate Eugene Monroe, he was drafted in the first round, I was drafted in the second round. We were the first rookie tackle tandem to start in the NFL in a really long time, and we gave up zero sacks to Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts. Two of some of the best pass rushers in perhaps the history of the game. ... Robert and Dwight revolutionized the spin move. Their spin move was like teleportation. They disappeared in a moment. They made a lot of guys look bad.

“It was my first start ever and (we surrendered) zero sacks. ... After the game, (veteran left tackle) Tra Thomas was giggling and was like, ‘Man, rookies starting their first game ever against those guys, zero sacks! Zero sacks!’ He was so proud of us. I thought to myself, ‘If Tra is proud of us, then I feel like I did something there. Maybe I do belong here.’ That’s a great memory that I have and I recognized I belonged there and knew I could do this thing.”

How do you reflect on your time at Arizona?

A: “Last year, I thought what an incredible season. I loved seeing that. (Former Arizona head coach) Jedd Fisch, I knew who he was when he got hired, so I wasn’t when he went to Washington. That being said, he blew my mind pulling together that team last year, and I was really proud to see that, and I’m stoked to see this new guy. ... That’s what we needed was someone who gets this program, what Tucson is about, (which is) that underdog mentality. Dick Tomey really started that culture and I think Mike Stoops brought something special to Arizona. I just loved Mike. ... I came to the U of A for this junior day camp. The next day, my dad and I drove up to Phoenix and met with ASU. After meeting with ASU, my dad and I were at dinner and I was like, ‘Man, Arizona feels like the place. It feels like the place for me.’

“They had creative writing as a major and one of the best creative writing majors in the world. In high school, I had this idea that I wanted to be a creative writer. I love telling stories and it’s definitely evolved into podcasting and using my voice. ... It was fun, but it felt right. I wanted to be a part of an underdog and be a part of a team that brought the program back to bowl games. ... My time at Arizona, honestly, some of the best years ever. There have been a lot of good years of life since and there have been a lot of great things that have happened; I’ve been blessed. I look back on my time at Arizona and love every bit of it.”