Ryan Shazier injury: What happened to the Steelers LB and how's his recovery going

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury in December 2017 and has been making slow progress in a quest that stretches far beyond the gridiron.

Shazier has made numerous public appearances since his injury; arguably his most powerful came during the 2018 NFL Draft, when he walked onto the stage with some help from his then-fiancee, Michelle. Shazier did not play in 2018 or 2019 and has now officially retired from the NFL.

A timeline of Ryan Shazier’s injury and recovery

Here’s everything that happened since Shazier was injured on Dec. 4, 2017.

Sept. 9, 2020

Ryan Shazier made it official on Wednesday by announcing his retirement from the NFL in this video:

Mar. 17, 2020

Shortly before the start of the 2020 league year, the Steelers announced that Shazier has retired from the NFL and been placed on the Reserve/Retired List. This move will allow for “his continued inclusion within our organization,” according to the team’s general manager, Kevin Colbert.

Aug. 25, 2019

Although Shazier won’t play again this year, he is still part of the Steelers — and even snagged a few balls in warmups before a preseason game:

June 3, 2019

The Professional Football Writers of America announced that Shazier was chosen as the 2019 George Halas Award recipient. The award is given annually to an NFL figure who has overcome adversity.

May 3, 2019

Shazier married his longtime partner, Michelle, in downtown Pittsburgh. Current and former Steelers teammates, along with a couple celebrities, were guests at the wedding to celebrate the couple.

Also worth celebrating is Shazier hitting the dance floor with his new wife:

April 29, 2019

For the second year in a row, the Steelers placed Shazier on the physically unable to perform (PUP list). That was the plan all along, but now it’s official that he won’t play in 2019.

April 7, 2019

Shazier showed off the impressive progress he’s made, posting a video of himself doing box jumps:

“The first boxes were a lot lower than that,” Shazier’s father, Vernon, told ESPN. “It all began with just trying to jump — no box. It slowly graduated to what you see in that video.”

March 12, 2019

Shazier’s contract was set to expire after the 2018 season, but because he was sidelined the entire year the Steelers have the option to toll his contract over another year. The team announced it planned to do exactly that — ensuring Shazier can continue to get paid by the league, accrue years toward a pension, and receive NFL medical insurance.

The Steelers also announced that Shazier will eventually be placed on the PUP list and won’t play for the team in 2019.

“We will continue to support Ryan’s efforts to return to play,” said General Manager Kevin Colbert. “Although he won’t be able to help us on the field in 2019, his leadership, insight, and emotional support have always been very valuable to us, and we look forward to his contributions in our pursuit of a championship.”

Jan. 16, 2019

Following the Steelers’ 2018 season, Art Rooney II gave an update about Shazier’s status with the team. Shazier is set to be a free agent in March.

“Ryan, I believe, still intends to continue to rehab with the intention of trying to come back and play, and so to the extent that he wants to do that, we’re open to working that out,” Rooney said. “There are some technicalities about somebody going from staff to player. So, at this point as I said, I think his goal is to continue to be a player, and so we’ll have to address it as time goes on and figure out how that works. He would have to have a contract.”

One possibility is that the Steelers sign him to a one-year contract at the league minimum.

Dec. 6, 2018

Almost exactly a year after his injury, Shazier posted a video of himself deadlifting:

Days earlier, Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Shazier had just jogged for the first time since the injury. According to the article, doctors had given Shazier “less than a 20 percent chance” of walking again.

Oct. 14, 2018

Shazier returned to Cincinnati, where the Steelers and Bengals were playing for the first time since his injury. Before the game, Shazier paid a visit to University of Cincinnati Medical Center to thank them for taking care of him last December:

Sept. 24, 2018

The Steelers made their first Monday Night Football appearance since Shazier’s injury in a Week 3 matchup against the Buccaneers. Lisa Salters spoke to Shazier before the game.

“He’s feeling really good,” Salters said, “He said he’s taking things a day at a time. He wants to play football.”

Salters also talked to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who told her, “We just want to be there as a team to support him in whatever decision he decides to make for himself in the future.”

Aug. 3, 2018

At the Steelers’ annual Friday Night Lights practice, Shazier showed fans that he is now walking on his own, unassisted and without a cane:

June 6, 2018

Shazier spoke at a press conference — his first time speaking to media after his December injury.

“My dream is to come back and play football again,” Shazier said. “I’ve been working my tail off every day and I have that in the back of my mind every day I go to rehab.”

Shazier said he’s been surprising doctors with his progress throughout the rehab process. His goal for now is to be able to walk by himself without the support of a cane.

He also said that he’s not afraid of suffering another injury if he eventually returns to the field, but added that “he’ll have to play safer and keep his head up.”

May 3, 2018

The Steelers are giving Shazier his entire 2018 salary upfront:

May 2, 2018

The Steelers placed Shazier on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which means he won’t count against the team’s 90-man limit for the offseason roster.

April 26, 2018

He made a surprise appearance at the NFL Draft, when he walked for the first time in public since his injury. His fiancee, Michelle, walked with Shazier to help him to the podium. There, Shazier announced the Steelers’ first-round pick, safety Terrell Edmunds out of Virginia Tech:

After, he thanked fans for their support:

A dramatic week got even more so the next day, when a tornado hit his parents’ home, but everyone is OK.

April 14, 2018

Shazier was an honorary captain at Ohio State’s spring game. He used a wheelchair to get to the Buckeyes locker room, where he stood up to address the team before the scrimmage. Shazier also stood up to wave to the crowd at Ohio Stadium:

April 11, 2018

Shazier attended a Pittsburgh Penguins playoff game and while standing, he led the fans in a “Let’s go Pens” cheer.

Shazier attended an NCAA tournament game in Pittsburgh.

March 4, 2018

During the NFL Combine, Shazier hopped on the phone with NFL Network’s Mike Mayock and Rich Eisen.

“My end goal is to allow the Lord to let me come back and play at the high level that I was before,” Shazier said. “Every day I try to get better. I strive for the Hall of Fame and I was doing that through this year, the whole time I was playing. And I still do that while I’m doing rehab. I know it’s still a possibility. I have the Lord and he has my back and I constantly feel I’m going to come back and play football.”

Feb. 28, 2018

At the NFL Combine, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert announced that Shazier wouldn’t be playing in the 2018 season:

Feb. 20, 2018

On Feb. 20, Ryan Shazier spoke for the first time about his injury when he was a guest on his teammate Roosevelt Nix’s podcast. Shazier said that he’s making progress every day and that he plans to play football again one day.

Feb. 7, 2018

Team owner Art Rooney II confirmed that Shazier will still be heavily involved with the Steelers next season:

Feb. 6, 2018

Shazier attended a Penguins game and stood up, with some help, while fans gave him a standing ovation:

Feb. 4, 2018

ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared on Super Bowl Sunday that Shazier hasn’t just regained feeling in his legs, but he’s also regained movement and is “engaging in a regular walking routine.” But Michele Tafoya reported that Shazier wasn’t walking on his own, which Shazier then confirmed himself.

Feb. 1, 2018

Shazier posted the most encouraging sign of his recovery to that date with a picture that appeared to show him standing — albeit with support from teammate Ben Roethlisberger.

That same day, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center released a statement saying that Shazier was discharged from inpatient rehab and will transition into an outpatient program to continue his recovery.

Jan. 14, 2018

Shazier was on hand to cheer on the Steelers during their Divisional Round game against the Jaguars.

He spoke to his teammates in the locker room to encourage them, according to CBS’ broadcast.

Jan. 10, 2018

This was the first photo that confirmed Shazier was in a wheelchair. His family and the team have kept details about Shazier’s condition close to the vest to protect his privacy as he recovers.

He visited his teammates at practice for the first time before the Steelers’ divisional matchup against the Jaguars, bringing an emotional lift as the team prepared for the postseason. Cameron Heyward told NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala that Shazier said he has good days and bad days. But the days he’s able to spend around his teammates are always good days.

Jan. 4, 2018

Shazier’s father, Vernon, said that Ryan regained feeling in his legs.

“He’s much better,” the elder Shazier told Pittsburgh’s WPXI-TV, “but we’ve agreed to keep his progress private until he’s ready to share where he’s at.”

Dec. 17, 2017

Shazier made his first public appearance since the injury at the Steelers’ Week 15 game against the Patriots,. He waved a Terrible Towel to pump up the crowd:

Dec. 12, 2017

The Steelers put Shazier on injured reserve, officially ending his season.

“Unfortunately Ryan will not be able to contribute on the field during the remainder of this season,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement. “However, even off the field Ryan will continue to be one of our team leaders. We know his spirit and positive outlook will help him to continue in his recovery, as well as serve as an inspiration to our team.”

Dec. 10, 2017

Shazier celebrated the Steelers’ Week 14 win over the Ravens with his teammates from his hospital bed via FaceTime.

It was their first game after Shazier’s injury.

“We didn’t play without him. He was out here with us, and we know it,” quarterback Ben Roethsliberger said after their 39-38 dramatic win. “Buddy, we love you so much. This one was for you, bud.”

Before the game, Antonio Brown and several other teammates wore customized cleats in honor of Shazier.

Dec. 7, 2017

Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery, according to an announcement from the team:

“I’m not worried about him playing for us again, I’m more worried about him,” Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said via the Post-Gazette. “Y’all have been updated as much as we have. The thing that we’re hopeful for and prayerful for is that he comes back and he’ll be OK. The football stuff is secondary. His life is a lot more important to me than football.”

Dec. 6, 2017

Shazier was transported back to Pittsburgh to stay at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center:

Dec. 5, 2017

The Steelers updated Shazier’s status throughout the day:

“I really have no update in terms of his medical status other than what was released earlier,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. “I would imagine at the appropriate time that those who are responsible for his care will give you a reasonable assessment of where he is. I imagine that would occur as soon as later on today.”

“From my perspective, obviously it was a tough evening,” he said. “Ryan’s a trooper. I had an opportunity to spend some time with him, and he’s in good spirits.”

Dec. 4, 2017

Shazier was injured during a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals in Week 13. On Cincinnati’s first possession of the game, Shazier went to the ground clutching his back after tackling Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone. It looked like a normal, everyday kind of tackle until Shazier didn’t get up.

Shazier was immobilized on a backboard, carted off the field, and taken to a Cincinnati hospital.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not have an update on Shazier’s status after the game.

“This is a tough game, tough business,” Tomlin said. “5-0 (Shazier) is our brother.”

What does Ryan Shazier mean to the Steelers?

Shazier has been the Steelers’ biggest defensive playmaker since they took him in the first round of the 2014 draft.

He means so much more to the Steelers than that, as was seen in the way his teammates reacted immediately after his injury. They had a hard time holding back tears in the immediate aftermath and for the rest of the game.

“I don’t think Vince (Williams) stopped crying until after halftime, and that’s one of the most gangster dudes on the team,” safety Mike Mitchell said, via The MMQB’s Greg Bishop. “People had to grab him by the face mask and be like, ‘Yo, you’re the middle linebacker now. You can’t be sniffling.’”

The Steelers went on to win that game, beating the Bengals 23-20. They won four of their last five, locking up the second seed in the AFC before falling to the Jaguars in the Divisional Round.

He wasn’t on the field, but they didn’t do it without Shazier.

“When you see him, you know how much he loves football and wants to be out there for us,” linebacker Anthony Chickillo said, through the team’s website. “You just want to go hard for him. You just want to win for him.”

What’s Shazier’s prognosis?

Shazier started rehab days after undergoing surgery. He’s still very much a part of the Steelers, even if he never takes the field again.

Shazier and his family believe that he will play again.

“Yes, I do,” Vernon Shazier said. “I Shalieve.” Shazier and his family consistently use that play on Shazier’s last name and the word “believe“ when talking about his injury.

The injury was terrifying, and it’s difficult to even think about whether Shazier can or will play football in the future. What matters now is just Shazier’s continued recovery.