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Retired Steelers linebacker sends heartfelt message to Mike Tomlin
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- Retired Steelers linebacker sends heartfelt message to Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin has impacted the lives of many within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, but none probably more than retired linebacker Ryan Shazier , who took to social media to thank his former coach.
Following Tomlin's decision to step down as head coach of the Steelers , Shazier posted a heartwarming message that exemplifies the importance of great player-coach relationships.
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"Two decades of leading this organization with an unshakable belief and a standard that never wavered. Coach Tomlin, you changed my life in ways that go beyond football," Shazier wrote, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. "…What you did in that hospital room, holding linebacker meetings from my bedside, never letting me feel alone for a single second, that's when I realized you weren't just my coach. You were family.
"You kept me on the roster for three years while I fought to walk again. Never once made me feel like I was anything less than a Steeler. And then this year, when I didn't know what was next, you brought me back home to your coaching staff. You believed in me again. You gave Pittsburgh 19 years of unwavering leadership and never compromised on what this organization stands for. Thank you for seeing me when I was 21. Thank you for holding me up when I was 25 and couldn't move my legs. Thank you for giving me purpose again at 32."
Selected with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Shazier wasted little time cementing himself as one of the league's fiercest linebackers before suffering a heartbreaking spinal contusion on December 4, 2017. After undergoing surgery and intense physical therapy to finally walk again, Shazier announced his retirement on September 9, 2020.
It was evident some fans weren't thrilled with Tomlin's results, but he's clearly made more of a difference for players like Shazier than wins ever could.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Ex-Steelers HC Mike Tomlin receives heartfelt post from Ryan Shazier
