Former Steelers LB Ryan Shazier makes stop in Erie area for spinal rehabilitation fundraiser

Shazier, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star linebacker, suffered a spinal contusion during their game at Cincinnati. While his spinal stabilization surgery was successful, he needed to learn to walk again.

When Shazier learned that, only one question dominated his inner monologue.

“Why me?” wasn’t it.

“There wasn’t any point in my rehab where I thought I wasn’t going to walk again,” Shazier said. “I didn’t (experience) much of a situation where I didn’t think it was going to happen. It was more when I was going to walk again and then be able to play again.”

Such positive thinking helped answer Shazier’s first question, if not the second. The Steelers’ 2014 first-round draft pick from Ohio State officially retired in 2020.

Shazier’s new purpose in life, though, was easy to find. The Florida native founded the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation to assist those who experienced spinal cord injuries, plus their families.

That’s why Shazier, 31, was at Lake Shore Country Club in Fairview Township on Thursday. He highlighted a meet-and-greet that sought donations for the organization.

Erie benefactor

Those who attended Thursday’s event were invited to bid on silent auction items. They included a No. 50 Steelers jersey, which Shazier autographed, and two tickets for Pittsburgh’s Christmas Day game vs. the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium.

Among those in the audience was Emma Caserta, 20. It was the third time the Erie resident spoke with Shazier since September 2021, when she was in a utility vehicle accident.

Caserta learned about Shazier’s organization from an aide during extensive rehabilitation at UPMC hospitals throughout Pittsburgh.

“They told us if we needed anything to reach out to their foundation,” Caserta said. “When I came home from the hospital after two months, we needed help with home renovations. They gave us $15,000.”

Caserta said her family couldn’t find enough help needed for the renovations at that price. Instead, she used the money to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and learned how to drive it.

That sense of independence will help with finding employment, which is Caserta’s next quest. She’d like to become an ethologist and work for a spa.

“I’m so lucky to be invited to all these events,” Caserta said, “and I’m a so grateful for all they’ve done.”

Homan's help

Shazier wasn’t the lone speaker at Lake Shore.

Last at the dais was Ben Homan, 27, a physical therapist for Erie’s UMPC Rehabilitation Institute. The Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy and Penn State Behrend graduate hadn’t met Shazier before Thursday.

However, Homan said he saw Shazier’s injury in person. He was at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium that Monday night for the rivalry meeting between the Steelers and Bengals.

While it wasn’t the factor that inspired Homan to become a physical therapist, it definitely was a factor.

The fates of Shazier and Homan crossed again when Shazier’s organization announced the local fundraiser last month. That followed Homan’s decision to resume long-distance running.

Now, Homan is training for the Shalieve 50K. His 31.1-mile charity run, nearly 5 miles longer than a marathon, is scheduled for Sept. 21 at Presque Isle State Park.

“I committed to doing an ultramarathon this year,” Homan said, “but then I thought, ‘Wait, what a better way to fundraise? Plus, I’ve had patients who have personally benefitted from Ryan’s (organization), so this seemed like a perfect partnership.”

Donations for Homan’s Shalieve 50K can be made at ryanshazierfund.org/ultramarathon.

‘Bigger than football’

While Shazier’s last on-field action as a Steeler occurred seven years ago, he’s not averse to employment by the six-time Super Bowl titlists in another capacity.

Shazier said he’s indicated his interest to coach Mike Tomlin, the same man who coached him throughout his four-year NFL career, about a spot on his staff.

Shazier said he remembered one of Tomlin’s quotes that further inspired him to walk again.

“Coach always said, ‘Either you find stress or stress finds you.’” he said. “In football, you’ll find yourself in tough positions. When I got into this position, I felt like I had to do everything I could to come out the best way I could.

“I won’t be playing in the NFL again, but now I’m in the business of helping others with spinal cord injuries. That’s a bigger impact that just playing football.”

Contact Mike Copper atmcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.