Ryan Shazier’s determination to play football is incredible
By Cody Rivera
The Steelers linebacker suffered what could’ve been a career-ending injury last year, but he’s determined to overcome it and play football again.
Ryan Shazier has a lot of heart and guts, and you have to give him that.
The linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a horrifying spinal injury during a Monday night game last season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury ended his season, and there was a very solid chance that it could’ve ended his football career as well.
Early in the game, Shazier charged head-first into a Bengals receiver as he was catching the ball. Shazier immediately went to the ground and didn’t move, seemingly unable to move his legs. Of course, as with any spinal injury, there were major concerns as to if he would ever walk again, much less play football again.
But Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery in December, and fortunately, he is continuing to make progress every day. He says he still uses a cane to help him get from place to place, but he hopes to soon get to the point where he’ll be able to walk on his own.
For Shazier, however, that’s just the beginning. He’s determined to eventually get back out on the football field again and continue his career in the NFL. For someone who suffered such a horrifying, possibly traumatizing, injury, his will and determination to return to the sport is breathtaking.
“My dream is to come back and play football again,” Shazier said at a news conference on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. “I’ve been working my tail off every single day, so I have that in the back of my mind every time I go to rehab. I just try to stay positive every day, so I’m just trying to do everything I can to get back.”
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Shazier obviously won’t be returning to the field any time soon, as he’s understandably already been completely ruled out for the 2018 season, but it’s impossible to question his heart. Not many people can come back from a spinal injury, but Shazier seems to have the right mindset, and he certainly has the determination and the will.