Since retiring from his NFL playing career, Ryan Shazier has remained very involved with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shazier has stayed with the organization in a new role this offseason — alumni relations assistant.
The former linebacker spoke about his new position during an interview with Casino Guru News’ Kyle Odegard on May 8. It’s a role that he has thoroughly enjoyed.
“It’s really fun to catch up with some of the former players and also still be involved in the organization,” said Shazier. “I still live in Pittsburgh, and it really runs through my blood. To be able to still be a part of the organization and try to help us win another Lombardi in whatever aspect they ask me to do, I try my best. I try to raise awareness around the brand.”
The Steelers drafted Shazier in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He will turn only 34 years old in September, but the ex-linebacker retired from the NFL after sustaining a spinal cord injury in December 2017.
Shazier spent two years on Pittsburgh’s physically unable to perform list before retiring in 2020.
He made the Pro Bowl during each of his final two NFL seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Ryan Shazier Staying Involved With Steelers in New Role
Shazier’s playing career came to a very unfortunate end on Monday Night Football during Week 13 of the 2017 campaign. The linebacker lowered his head on a hit to a Cincinnati Bengals player late in the second quarter.
Shazier immediately fell to the ground, holding his lower back. He didn’t play again after the hit.
But since retiring from playing, Shazier has contributed to Pittsburgh’s scouting department. During 2024, he served as a coaching intern. This year, he is growing in his new role.
Shazier explained to Odegard how special it is to still be with the Steelers in any capacity.
“It means everything. Most people don’t have this type of support when it comes to anything in life,” said Shazier. “Just to be able to have the (Rooney) family support me, the organization support me, have the city behind me through the whole injury — I feel like they’ve seen me grow up in my life. I got drafted here. I’ve been here the whole time.
“It’s been constant support the whole way through, and I try to give that same love back that they give me.”
Shazier Addresses New Steelers Era With Mike McCarthy
As was the case for so many Steelers players, Mike Tomlin was the only head coach Shazier played for in his career. Until January, it was also the only Steelers head coach he worked with in other roles with the organization.
This offseason, Mike McCarthy is replacing Tomlin. Some Pittsburgh fans have been lukewarm, at best, about McCarthy’s arrival. Shazier argued how important it is that Steelers fans embrace and support McCarthy as the Steelers have supported him over the years.
“First of all, not many people get to coach a team they grew up watching. So with him being from here, I think that’s one reason they should support him. Just being from here — everyone here calls them Yinzers. Just for that reason, but then another is, everywhere he goes he improves the offense,” Shazier told Odegard.
“One thing the Steelers have been known for is their defense. One thing about McCarthy is that he likes to have that blue-collar run game, but his quarterbacks always get better. He’s a quarterback developer with a blue-collar feel on how to run his team.
“I think that’s exactly what the Steelers need. We had that, and now to be able to add to the offensive side of the ball, I think it’s going to be nice. It will be different than what people are used to because we had 20 years of Tomlin, but I think it’s going to be nice to have someone new. I think he will do a great job here.”
In four seasons with the Steelers, Shazier started 41 of 46 games. He posted 299 combined tackles with seven sacks, 25 pass defenses, seven forced fumbles and seven interceptions.
Shazier had 89 combined tackles, 11 pass defenses and three interceptions in 12 games during 2017 when he suffered his injury.
Former Pro Bowl LB Ryan Shazier Addresses New Steelers Role: Report