Ryan Shazier walks to the podium to deliver to the Steelers first round pick

Ryan Shazier suffered what appeared to be a potentially catastrophic spinal cord injury. His astounding recovery had him walking to the podium to deliver the Steelers first round pick.

It was one of the absolute lowest moments of the NFL season. In the Steelers Week 13 game, Shazier delivered a hit and immediately reached for his back in pain. He rolled onto his back, flexing his hand as if trying to return feeling, will his legs lay limply. He was carted off the field and the immediate diagnosis was a spinal cord injury.

The NFL has been following Shazier’s amazing and rapid recovery since then. On Super Bowl Sunday it was reported that he had regained feeling in his legs as well as movement and was working towards walking again. Later that week, he received a standing ovation at a Penguins game. Throughout his recovery, Shazier had talked repeatedly about playing football again, although the team announced that definitely won’t be next season.

At the NFL Draft, Shazier’s recovery took another step, as he walked to the podium to deliver the pick for his Pittsburgh Steelers.

There was not a dry eye in the house as Shazier took the stage, announcing that the Steelers would be taking Virginia Tech safety Terrell Edmunds with the No. 28 pick. If Shazier is indeed able to return to the field at some point, he and Edmunds could end up sharing the same defensive backfield.

Next: FanSided 2018 NFL Draft Center

Draft night is supposed to be all about optimism. Skilled and talented young men with their entire futures ahead of them. It was utterly appropriate to stop and celebrate the work that Shazier has done to heal his body, and to remember that he too is a young man with a bright future in front of him.