Ryan Shazier speaks publicly for first time since game injury

Ryan Shazier is speaking publicly for the first time since his season-ending injury last year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers player spoke on teammate Roosevelt Nix's podcast, which was uploaded Tuesday.

“I'm still reaching for that Hall of Fame because I really feel like I'm the best linebacker ever. You know what I'm saying. I just gotta be back out there so everybody can see it,” Shazier said.

During the 25-minute conversation, Nix asked Shazier about the moment he stood up at the Penguins game.

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“I really wanted to do that cuz,like, I feel like everyone needed to see that. Everyone saw the picture but a picture is totally different. You can frame a picture. You can't frame a video,” Shazier said.

And as for that  picture everyone in Pittsburgh seemed to share on social media with Big Ben:

“The picture people think like ben is supporting me too he's barely holding me so I was like I want to stand up so people could see like Ben wasn't just holding me up,” Shazier said.

Shazier talked about how quickly his family surrounded him after his injury. He's especially thankful for his fiancee Michelle, his mom and dad, Vernon.

And he remains thankful for Pittsburgh's love off the field.

"It feels good just to know that people are supporting me people really love and support me,” Shazier said.

Currently, Shazier's is rehabbing five times a week for two hours a day.

He said, somewhat proudly, the doctors are seeing progression every day.

Cox Media Group