CINCINNATI -- Ryan Shazier wasn't exactly shying away from the scene.
The night before the Steelers and Bengals were to kick off at Paul Brown Stadium for the first time since Shazier's injury Dec. 4, 2017, he and team doctors David Okonkwo and Joe Maroon paid a visit to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Shazier was first treated. They met with and thanked the doctors and other staff who'd been on the scene that night.
And yes, Shazier walked into the building:
It’s been a long journey, but this is still a ways to go. But it all started here in Cincinnati. Today was an amazing day I was so thankful to be able to tell everyone thank you. #Shalieve pic.twitter.com/wItKXNp5ya
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) October 14, 2018
And then, Sunday morning, he walked into another building:
We all #SHALIEVE. pic.twitter.com/MeJeJQdWSk
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 14, 2018
And within minutes of entering, he was right out there in the field, standing in the end zone with those familiar orange and black stripes, welcomed with an ovation from those few fans who'd shown up that early. Which is when Mike Tomlin approached for a long embrace.
Tomlin, not exactly one for the warm and fuzzy, but especially not after a heated AFC North game, was visibly moved when asked at the podium afterward about that moment:
"It's a lot of those moments," he replied. "It was the first home game. It was when we went to training camp in Latrobe. It happens every now and then. Some things are bigger than football. Obviously. This is one of them."
From there, Shazier walked toward the linebackers, as he's been doing before every game, to participate -- no, lead -- the pump-up session:
5️⃣0️⃣ #WeRide pic.twitter.com/JQ4wtRziHC
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 14, 2018
Once the Steelers had prevailed, 28-21, on Antonio Brown's touchdown with 10 seconds left, Shazier joined both teams' prayer circle right on the giant 'B' logo at the 50-yard line, a scene captured in the Matt Sunday photo atop this article. Andy Dalton, one of several Bengals to have extended him hugs and handshakes beforehand, was right there with him after a loss he'd later call "a tough one."
The other team's quarterback then walked, stride for stride, off the field next to Shazier. Just those two.
"That was emotional," Ben Roethlisberger said, still palpably moved. "Just because of what happened and what he means to this team. I mentioned to the team in the prayer afterward that we're ... thankful. We're thankful that he's walking now and doing things. Obviously, he's not to where he wants to be and playing football again, but he's able to walk. And to see him walk off that field ..."
Long pause.
"... it was special. This is a place that we'll always remember. Not just for football. But for life."
And in the visitors' locker room, where nearly a year ago the Steelers had won a game but still sat in the most contrary silence, this time Shazier was with them. And standing. And giving the postgame speech.
No one would divulge specifics, but they didn't exactly hold back on their feelings on it.
"It was really neat that you guys respectfully have given us time," Vance McDonald told reporters, who waited slightly longer than usual to enter the room. "It was a really neat thing that happened with Ryan and the team. Just to finish the game, it was a lot. It was cool."
"It was heartfelt," Brown said. "Ryan is one of those unique individuals. He let us know that it’s bigger than football. To see him go through this journey and be positive in the journey, it gives us courage."
"That kid is so strong," Cam Heyward said. "Where he walks, we walk. Everything he goes through, we go through."
"That's Ryan. That's my brother," Vince Williams, his closest friend on the team, said. "He's come a long way, and we're all so proud of him. For him to be here ..."
Williams was done after that.
Others took to social media:
This game wasn’t just for the Steelers it’s for our legend @RyanShazier ???#doittuitt #steelers https://t.co/eq2GDWqb7q
— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) October 14, 2018
Shazier's No. 50 stall, still present in every locker room the Steelers use, was in the same location as last December. He exited while Tomlin went to his press conference in an adjacent room.
Tomlin opened his session with the eminently expected "Man, that's big-time AFC North football," as well as thanking his players and listing injuries. But before opening up to questions, he added, "It's just really good to be back in this building, and be back in this building with Ryan Shazier with us. We love and respect Ryan, and we've learned a lot from his struggles since the last time we've been here. He's inspired us. Hopefully, he's inspired many outside of us."
Another member of the Steelers who's done his fair share of inspiring might have summed up the scene best.
"He was here with us," James Conner said. "He walked in with us, and he walked out with us."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Ryan Shazier, Cincinnati, Oct. 14, 2018 - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS