By Steven Johnson Jr.

It looked like a routine play. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Josh Malone ran a shallow crossing route over the middle of the field. After Malone caught the ball, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier took two steps and delivered a hit with his right shoulder pad. It was an athletic play Ryan had made hundreds of times before. But this time something went wrong—and he knew it.

Immediately, Ryan reached for his lower back. He rolled over, unable to move his legs. Every eye in Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2017, focused on the Pro Bowl linebacker. The game stopped. He was strapped to a backboard and taken off the field on a cart surrounded by doctors, medical experts, and concerned teammates.

At the hospital, doctors determined Ryan had suffered a spinal contusion. He underwent a spinal stabilization surgery a couple of days later. Even in the midst of this devastating injury, Ryan took to Twitter a day after being carted off the field, saying: Thank you for the prayers. Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE

Since that time, Ryan has been uplifting everyone else. On February 1, 2018, Ryan was released from the University of Pittsburgh medical center. At first, medical professionals wouldn’t comment if Ryan would ever walk again. But Ryan took to the challenge like he did to reach his goal of playing in the NFL. He immediately started rehab four times a week for two hours a day. He posted photos of himself doing pull-ups at a gym. Then on April 26, 2018, Ryan surprised everyone at the NFL Draft in Dallas, Texas. The crowd erupted in applause and tough athletes had tears running down their faces as Ryan walked—yes, walked!—onto the stage to announce the Steelers’ first-round selection.

After making his inspiring appearance, Ryan went to Twitter and said, Love you all thank you. God IS SO GREAT!!! In interviews with NFL.com, Ryan says his goal is to return to football and one day make it to the Hall of Fame. Every day is a challenge, but Ryan fully trusts God. He and his family have asked for prayers for full restoration to health. As you read this, please pray for Ryan and his family. Ask God, the Great Physician, to heal Ryan in miraculous ways. He was told before that he’d never play football again. That was in high school. Now his determination, dreams, and faith have him focused on recapturing his on-field greatness.

Ryan’s favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He’s personally driven to be the best, but without Christ’s strength in his life, he knows that he falls short.

But this hasn’t been the only challenge Ryan has had to face. He also suffers from scoliosis of the spine and alopecia. In Ryan’s words:

“You might never play football again.” More than one doctor gave this short and dreaded diagnosis to me when I was in high school. My scoliosis was so bad that medical professionals feared that my football career was over just as it was starting. Having a curved spine is a bad medical condition for a football player, but it’s not the affliction I’m most recognized for.

Some fans may not know I have scoliosis, but everyone can see my bald head caused by alopecia. A beautiful, bald head is a fashion statement for men these days, but being bald as a child was a source for teasing and ridicule in the schoolyard. Kids called me “Patchy” or “Cue Ball.” A lot of kids didn’t realize an autoimmune disease caused my baldness. With the love and nurturing of my parents, I began to accept and proudly display my baldness. As I got older, playing in college and the professional ranks, I even started speaking to children who suffered from this affliction to help them deal with their situation just as I did.

Playing football with alopecia is no problem. Playing with scoliosis is a different story. A curved spine can develop for a number of reasons. My family worked with doctors to monitor and treat it so it wouldn’t progress. And as I worked to correct the condition, I became a standout on the Plantation High School football team in Florida. At 6’2″ and 205 pounds, I played defensive end and tight end. When I graduated, I was ranked by college recruiters as one of the top 25 linebackers in the country. Even at my size, I could outrun most wide receivers. I played three years at Ohio State, racking up 317 tackles and 15 sacks, before declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Injuries are part of football. Mine was more severe than most. I used to get mad at the Lord when I sustained an injury, but I got over that quickly. I learned that I needed to stay strong in the Lord and faithful to him. I stopped asking, “Why me, Lord?” and just stayed close to him…. No matter what troubles or challenges you’re going through, you aren’t alone. God is always with you if you make him the Lord of your life. You just gotta Shalieve!

Ryan says, “Christ died for your sins. It doesn’t matter who you are. Christ died so that YOU may have eternal life. He died and rose again so that, if you believe in him, you can go to heaven. God doesn’t need you to be perfect when you come to him. He needs you when you are broken and humbled. Many people have counted me out, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without the Lord.”

Editor’s Note: Ryan Shazier’s amazing recovery continues. On December 5, 2018, it was reported that he has started jogging for the first time since his injury. On December 6, 2018, a video was posted of Ryan lifting weights while standing.

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Adapted from A Walk in Our Cleats: 25 Athletes Who Never Gave Up by Steven Johnson Jr. Click here to learn more about this title.

A Walk in Our Cleats is an exciting, inside look at 25 notable NFL players and their faith journeys. Each player has faced unique circumstances in staying fit, pursuing their dreams, and getting to play in the NFL, but all have one thing in common: the power of Jesus Christ in their lives. It includes never-before-seen photographs that will appeal to American football fans everywhere.

Featuring an eye-catching four-color interior, you will be drawn in by the short, personal entries written by each player. Fans can jump in throughout the book to browse photos and pick up inspiration from each NFL player’s unique perspective on God’s amazing grace. Each player entry includes a relevant message, their favorite Scripture passages, and an encouraging life application to encourage and motivate you in your own faith journey.

Decorated and popular NFL players included in A Walk in Our Cleats are: Benjamin Watson, Ben Roethlisberger, Manny Ramirez, Miles Killebrew, Chris Harris Jr., David Bass, Lorenzo Alexander, Tyson Alualu, Jordan Matthews, Shamarko Thomas, Matthew Slater, Chris Clark, Don Carey, Arthur Moats, Derrick Morgan, Will Johnson, Wesley Woodyard, Ryan Shazier, Charles Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Tyler Patmon, Sam Acho, and Ben Garland.

Steven Johnson Jr. is an American football linebacker entering his seventh season in the National Football League. He is also the CEO and founder of the Faith Motivated Foundation, a charity designed to empower youth by demonstrating how to set and achieve goals while also seeking to educate and model a healthy lifestyle by motivating good choices through Christ. Steven has overcome insurmountable odds his entire life. He is the definition of diligence, patience, and perseverance. Check out the Faith Motivated Foundation at www.faithmotivated.org.