The way in which Ryan Shazier landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers was unique. Unlike other draft prospects, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had Shazier on his radar for a long time before he was eventually drafted. Cam Heyward introduced Tomlin to Shazier back when the linebacker was only 18.
The two never even played together at Ohio State, so Shazier’s impression on Heyward must have been apparent. That level of skill translated to the NFL for Shazier, who put together a solid career after Pittsburgh took him in the first round back in 2014. Shazier earned two Pro Bowl nominations in the four years he played and racked up 299 tackles during that time.