I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in any means. I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in the passing game. I definitely don't want to be viewed as a weakness in the running game.
— Zach Ertz
The city of Philadelphia is all about the underdog.
Being a tight end, you have to be able to do everything. You have to be able to run routes; you have to be able to block, pass-protect, and run with the ball after a catch. So, that's how I attack my workouts - focusing on doing everything.
My relationship with Jesus has changed my life and, really, the foundation of who my wife and I are as people.
That's something that I do pride myself on: making those tough and contested catches, whether it's in the red-zone or on third down.
Brent Celek is a heck of a blocker, James Casey is a heck of a blocker.
It's awesome being married to Julie, being able to support the people we love doing what they love to do.
As athletes, just looking at it from an outside perspective, it's really remarkable, the impact you could have on somebody that you have no idea.
You can't be a tight end and just be viewed as a receiver.
I feel no matter who I'm going against that I can get open in a number of ways.
I take every rep personally. If somebody beats me, I'm going to take that personally.
I'm never going to be satisfied with where I am as a player.
You got to know what the defense looks for and use that against them.
You're going to have to grind it out on some drives.
I still remember going to school on game day with my high school jersey on.
Don't live and die with every play.
You've got to perfect your craft.
My wife Julie and I are driven to make positive and enduring change in our beloved city of Philadelphia, in California, in Haiti, and around the world.
Glute bridges make sure my hips are staying in line. Making sure that I'm not putting added stress on the hamstrings, hip flexors, or groin. Being able to stabilize the hips is pretty much the center of playing football, so you can stay healthy.
Big hits are part of the game. So, paramount to every time I train is just to focus on staying healthy and doing everything I can to stay healthy.
If you look at the great tight ends in this league, the first thing that stands out is touchdowns. Just like at fantasy football. That's where a lot of guys get the respect, with touchdowns... That's the 'fantasy points' that everyone points out.
I don't care about the money. Honestly. All I care about is winning football games.
No one wants to be 13 and not able to eat their ice cream after dinner.
My seventh-grade year, I played football. I was, like, 15 pounds overweight, so I had to lose a ton of weight. They put me at left tackle; they put me on the defensive line. I absolutely hated football. I didn't want to play again. Eighth grade year, I didn't play.
I'm so thankful to everyone who has helped me along the way.
Anything that's truly competitive, I love.
I want to be out there every play.
You have to have confidence in this league. Everybody's so good.
I always want to improve in all my facets of the game, whether it's the receiving or blocking aspects.
If I'm out wide, and they put a linebacker on me, I think that's a mismatch every time, regardless of who is on me.
Red zone, third down, I want to be the guy who gets the number called. I put a lot of pride into what I do as a receiver in those situations - using my body when we need to make a play.
My role isn't just receiving.
I'm very confident in my abilities.
Can't ever catch enough balls.
I love football, but I also want to give back. I want to take care of kids and single moms, so it's not only about playing football. I want my life to matter in that way.
When you're blocking someone, or when you're running, it's all about putting force into the ground, and that's the epitome of the back squat.
I can't dwell on having a couple drops. It's going to happen - it's the NFL.
I want to be the guy in the red-zone, believe me.
I've never played this game for financial success.
When I was younger, I initially hated football because they put me on the offensive line because I was the biggest kid.
It's not a goal of mine to only play 45 percent of snaps. It's to be on the field for every single play.
It truly takes a village to become a professional athlete.
I love sports, and I'm a hugely competitive person.
I want to prove to myself and everybody else how good I can be, and I'm willing to work as hard as I need to to achieve that goal.
If you don't have the confidence, that's half the battle. You're going to be defeated before you even start.
I think you have to have a high football IQ. Obviously, you have to have the physical ability to run fast and get open. But you also have to have a high football IQ.
I just like going against the Redskins, I guess.
Football is such a traditionalist sport. Whatever happened in the past is usually going to continue. But the bullying has no place in any sport. That's the bottom line.
I want to be the guy on third down, whenever the coaches need a play, they call my number.
Early in my career, if I didn't get the ball, or if something would happen, or the media would say something, I'd take it personally.
