Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier posted an emotional tribute to Mike Tomlin on Instagram.
Shazier's career was tragically cut short when he suffered a devastating spinal cord injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, 2017. Shazier was an impact player on the Steelers defense and in the prime of his career. In an instant moment, Shazier's career and life was dramatically changed.
The injury occurred on a routine play, as Shazier closed in on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone , who was running a shallow route. Shazier's helmet was down, however, and when he made contact with Malone's thigh pads, Shazier collapsed to the ground, grabbing for his lower back.
Shazier shared that Tomlin was by his side the entire way when he was at his lowest moment.
" — 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.
"From the moment you drafted me, you saw something in me and pushed me to be great. Those late-night film sessions, just you and me, grinding through defensive schemes when everyone else went home.
That meant everything.
"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.
You made me believe.
#Shalieve
forever, Coach.
"
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin caught wind of Shazier's statement.
"This is one of the best things I have ever read!!! Pops was right about you Mike. One of a kind," Kiffin wrote on X.
Kiffin's dad, Monte, was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator when Tomlin was the Bucs' defensive backs coach from 2001-2005.
After spending two seasons on the Steelers' physically unable to perform list, Shazier announced his retirement from football in 2020. He helped out in the scouting department for a little and was a coaching intern in 2024, but has since moved on from the organization in complete capacity.
In 2020, Shazier created The Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation. The fund's mission is to provide support, resources, and funding to individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and their caregivers to help them live independent lives.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Ryan Shazier Posts Emotional Tribute to Mike Tomlin
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