Famed for his No. 50 jersey, Ryan Shazier has exhibited several impressive displays as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh-based professional football team, Pittsburgh Steelers, following his drafting in the National Football League (NFL) in 2014. For several reasons, Shazier is well-loved within the NFL community some of which are his rare speed, athletic force, intensity, and ability to carry his teammates along in every game.
Like most accomplished NFL players, Shazier knows his job, how to execute them, when to dominate minor battles on the football pitch, and also sacrifice himself at the point of attack. It is for these reasons that he has proved himself to be one of the best in the sports for which many people are desirous to see him climb even higher in the league. However, the footballer in the course of doing his much-loved job suffered an excruciating injury that put his career on the line.
Read on to find out more about the NFL player, how he has been fairing after his fatal injury, and if he is really paralyzed or not.
Ryan Shazier Biography
The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker was named Ryan Dean Shazier at birth by his parents who welcomed him into the world on the 6th day of September 1992. His birthplace is Lauderdale Lakes, which is located in Florida, in the United States of America.
Born to Vernon Shazier (father) and Shawn Shazier (mother), Ryan began his basic education at an elementary school located in Florida, after which his parents enrolled him at a Florida-based high school called Plantation High School. Upon the completion of his studies, he was offered admission at the Ohio State University, where he finished with 14.5 sacks, 208 solo tackles, and 315 tackles.
Is He Married, Who Is His Wife?
Ryan is set to walk his sweetheart down the aisle, as their exact wedding date is yet to be publicly announced. The footballer’s darling is no other than pretty Michelle Rodriguez, a special education teacher born on August 12, 1992, in Ponce, Puerto Rico (not Michelle Rodriguez The Fast and the Furious actress). The couple has been in the relationship for a long time and is set to seal their love for each other in the presence of their friends and families in the coming days.
Ryan’s fiance was born to Zoraida Rodriguez (mother) and Felix Rodriguez (father). The two are also parents to her two siblings – Jennifer Rodriguez and Felix Jr. Rodriguez. Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Michelle attended Karen Wagner High School and later Texas State University, from where she obtained a degree in education.
When Michelle eventually marries the footballer, she will become a stepmother to Ryan’s son who came from his previous relationship with Tonika Maria, an Ohio-based nail stylist.
For what’s worth, the Shazier empire is due to expand in January 2019 as he is expecting another child with his fiance Michelle. It will be their first child together after so many years of being together as lovers.
Career Stats
Here’s a summary of Ryan Shazier’s career statistics.
| Year | Team | COMB | AST | Sack | INT | YDS | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Steelers | 89 | 21 | 0.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | Steelers | 87 | 32 | 3.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | Steelers | 87 | 32 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Steelers | 36 | 12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Total | 299 | 97 | 7.0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |
Ryan Shazier Injury Updates, Is He Really Paralyzed?
Presently, the footballer is fast recovering in outpatient rehabilitation, where his condition is greatly improving. Though no one is sure if he will be able to return to his position on the field, he is currently on Pittsburg Steelers injured reserve list following a fatal bruise that left him temporarily paralyzed for five months.
Ryan’s severe spinal injury occurred when his head went too low during a tackle that saw him fall to the ground and had his upper body flopped over during a game against The Cincinnati Bengals on December 4, 2017. The grievous fall also left his legs immobile, leading to an emergency spine stabilization surgery at Pittsburgh, after which the star was transferred to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy’s inpatient rehab center.
As time progressed, Ryan began using a wheelchair as well as building his strength with the help of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers. A couple of months ago, it was reported that some feelings have returned to his legs and that he has been working very hard at the rehabilitation center.
Although the nature of Ryan’s football injury is yet to be detailed online, early reports said he suffered a spinal contusion – a bruise that leads to swelling and/or bleeding as a result of the breaking of capillaries under the skin. Spinal contusions are very common among footballers. It’s the same injury that led to the early retirement of NFL players DeVonte Holloman and Jameel McClain after the duo suffered the bruise in 2013 and 2012 respectively. Prior to their retirement, Holloman and McClain represented Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants as linebackers in the football league.
As it is evident in the football community, Ryan Shazier’s hope of making a full recovery is a cause for celebration in the American football community. Sometime in February 2018, the footballer shared a photo of himself standing and smiling with his teammate Ben Rothlisberger. His last public outing was in April when he dependently walked to the stage with his fiance to announce Steeler’s first-round pick at the 2018 NFL Draft.
