Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier not only wants to play football again, he says his goal is to make the Hall of Fame.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his spine injury, Shazier said his therapists are amazed at the progress he has made since he was hurt Dec. 4 while making a tackle in Cincinnati.
“I got to get back,” Shazier told teammate Roosevelt Nix on the fullback’s podcast. “Right now I’m reading a book and it’s basically saying trust the process. I’m really trusting the process. I know the end goal. So I’m taking every step of the way, I’m giving everything I got. The therapists are like, ‘Man this is crazy; I’ve never seen anyone work this hard.’ They almost see progression every day.
“They say like some progressions they see week to week, they see from me day to day. I’m really trying to come back and still be a Pro Bowler. I’m sorry, because I feel I got snubbed this year for All-Pro even though I got hurt. But I feel like my stats are as good as those who made it.”
Shazier has documented on social media some of his progress. He had a photo taken of him and Ben Roethlisberger standing as he left his stay at UPMC. He stood up in a box at a Penguins game to acknowledge the crowd, something he said on Tuesday’s podcast was important to him.
“I really wanted to do that because I felt everybody needed to see that,’’ Shazier told Nix.
“At the end of the day, everybody saw the picture of me and Ben. I stood up. The thing is, in the picture, people were saying Ben supported me, too. He was barely even holding me. I was like I want to stand up so people can really see Ben ain’t just holding me up. This isn’t rigged.”
The 3rd episode is out @RyanShazier and I chop it up on my podcast show.... tell me what you think
— 5⃣Roosevelt nix (@Dat_Dude_Nix) February 21, 2018
The podcast with Nix lasted nearly 30 minutes and began with them talking about playing video games, their college careers, about college recruiting and even how Shazier got run over in the Steelers’ regular season game against Jacksonville by Chris Ivory.
Then the topics turned to his hopes and dreams and Shazier’s current situation.
“Since I’ve been in college, I really wanted to go to the Hall of Fame,” Shazier told Nix. “I still want to go to the Hall of Fame. All my goals are like making me want to go to the Hall of Fame.
“I have a paper that has all the Hall of Fame linebackers [listed]. I’ve got to be one of the best players. I really feel I have the ability.”
He listed his goal for every game.
“I’m trying to get 12 tackles, a pick, a forced fumble and a touchdown. Every game I’m trying to get something like that. You know, I’m trying to go to the Hall of Fame.”
It’s not a goal he has abandoned because of his injury.
“I’m still reaching for that Hall of Fame because I really feel I’m the best linebacker ever. I just got to be back out there so everybody can see it. You know what I’m saying?”
Shazier said he has a new perspective of those who are disabled.
“I gained so much more appreciation for people with disabilities and in wheelchairs. You can be going up one incline, that’s so much harder.
“The thing that’s so funny is like when I do the littlest things, peopled don’t understand how much people appreciate this right now. Like the process of me trying to get my feeling back to stand up and all that. Everything I did, I appreciated every moment.”
Shazier said he is involved in rehabilitation for his injury two hours daily, five times a week.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com
First Published: February 21, 2018, 2:11 a.m.
