"I consider myself a Yinzer"

To enter the 2017 season, one of Shazier's goals was simply to be healthy, to get through his first season without having to fight the injury virus.

"It's one of the most painful things," said Shazier during the 2017 off season. "It's not like people are hurting themselves willingly. I know that I have the ability to be one of the best linebackers in the league. I just want to do my best to stay healthy, do what I can to help this team and show everyone what I can really do. "

Shazier was doing just that as the 2017 season was going well. He led the defense in the tackles several times during the first months of the season, had three interceptions and 11 assists defended. He was about to do what he wanted to: show everyone that he was one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

December 4, 2017, everything has changed.

Shazier suffered a spinal injury against the Cincinnati Bengals that night and underwent spinal stabilization surgery two days later.

He has been an inspiration to date and has taken a positive approach to his recovery. He did not feel sorry for himself, but rather did everything he could. He first competed at Heinz Field for a game, then at a Penguins game, crossing the NFL draft stage to announce the Steelers' number. 1 choice and crossing alone the training ground during the training camp to the delight of Steelers Nation.

When the Steelers played in Cincinnati, he went to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was taken immediately after the injury, to thank the staff.

Shazier walked on the Paul Brown Stadium field on his own, led linebackers before the game and inspired the team in his victory over the Bengals.

Although Shazier is present day after day for his teammate, training in games, it has not always been easy for him.

"It's very difficult for me to be here," said Shazier. "It motivates me and pushes me more every day. I will not lie. Before each game, I hear the national anthem, knowing that it's time to play. It eats me inside. Sometimes I start crying when the national anthem is on. It is sometimes difficult.

"I know I keep motivating these guys because they see me pushing every day. It pushes them too. Sometimes it hurts because maybe I saw our defense sink into collapse and we did not have a turnaround and I knew I could have gone and done something or play money. At the end of the day, I just have to give them the knowledge that I have and try to help them every day that I can. "

Shazier has made incredible progress since his injury, to the point of walking alone, lifting weights and making progress that many would never have imagined.

"My doctor told me that I am further than what they expected," said Shazier. "The rehabilitation, recovery and rhythm I was doing, there are no closed doors. He said you have to keep working, keep grinding. It is possible that you work hard, whether you succeed or not. "

Shazier said his goal was to "definitely" play football again, and he strives daily to do so.

"I'm trying to say it at the end of the day, the mere fact that I'm hurt does not mean that I've lost the love of football," Shazier said. "I love football so much. I just care about the game. I really feel that the game has brought me to places where I did not expect it. I'm putting everything in it. I feel like the best linebacker in the league. I do not want to leave that as my legacy. I have the impression of having so much to show.

"From where I was to where I am now is a testimony of God. He also says that you never give up on your dreams, never give up what you want to be. Always keep pushing. It feels good to be back able to lift weights. Just going back to my initial state, lifting weights, doing football, it's great.

"I always have a positive state of mind. Always stay positive. Whatever the seriousness of the situation, there is always a window of opportunity to go always better, always to continue. Many people never thought I would walk again. I just trusted myself, I trusted the Lord, I kept pushing and I'm here.

Shazier, whose fiancée Michele recently gave birth to their son Lyon, said he always gave kids the same advice that he had before on the game that he loved so much.

"I tell the kids the same thing I told them before," Shazier said. "It's not because I've been hurt that it changes. You go out and play as you like the game. The game gives you what you deserve. I do not feel like I deserve it. At the end of the day, the Lord had a message for me. I contact many more people than I would probably have, even if I won the title of defensive player of the year or something. I tell them that if you go every day and play as you like football, football will give you back the love. "

In addition, this year they presented the Patricia R. Rooney Award, the first prize in the history of the CYA that bears the name of a woman. The award, which honors women who work tirelessly to improve Pittsburgh, was presented to Sister Louise Grundish, who has attended the dinner for 45 years and serves on the CYA Board of Directors.