Ryan Shazier walks to podium, makes Steelers' pick in moving NFL draft moment

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY

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ARLINGTON, Texas – Ryan Shazier’s steps were slow and measured as he made a surprise visit on the stage at the NFL draft Thursday night, but the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker was walking at all provided the most emotional moment of the first round.

Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury in a game in December, and while he has made several public appearances in the months since – waving from a press box in Pittsburgh,

or cheering from the stands of a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game – this was a dramatic moment.

Shazier was joined on stage by his fiancée, who helped him walk to the podium, and his son, as he announced the Steelers’ pick at No. 28 – safety Terrell Edmunds from Virginia Tech. Edmunds was not invited to the draft officially, but he was here at AT&T Stadium with his brother, Tremaine Edmunds, who was drafted by the Bills at No. 16 and was able to join Shazier and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage.

The NFL kept Shazier’s appearance a secret to the crowd and media at the stadium, and it was received by loud cheers. NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders was overcome with emotion and needed several moments to compose himself before conducting his on-stage interview with Terrell Edmunds.

Back in Pittsburgh as he discussed the Steelers draft, general manager Kevin Colbert called the Shazier's moment "a huge lift, for not only him, but for us."

"To see where he's come from to where he is and knowing where he might be able to go, it's beyond inspirational," Colbert said. "It's just exciting. It's really exciting for him."

I’m truly blessed and humbled from all the prayers, love, and support that I have received . This is what keeps me going. Just continue to #Shalieve pic.twitter.com/p1kAZfG8xT — Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) April 27, 2018

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.