The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their share of superior athletes come through their organization since it was created in 1933, but when you are talking about the modern era of Steelers football, few would compare to linebacker Ryan Shazier.
Shazier, the Ohio State standout, brought a speed and athleticism to the inside linebacker position few had ever seen before. He epitomized the ‘sideline-to-sideline’ athleticism which has now become synonymous with the position. Gone are the days of big, lumbering inside linebackers like Levon Kirkland prowling the middle of the field. Enter players like Shazier who were able to run with running backs and tight ends, and attack the line of scrimmage like few others.