The Game Changer Series: NFL star, Halas Award Winner Shazier to speak at Westminster on Oct. 8

9/18/2026 4:15:00 PM

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.--Ryan Shazier, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, entrepreneur, author and community leader, will visit Westminster College's New Wilmington campus to share inspiring stories of resilience, leadership and service from a remarkable career both on and off the field.

"An Evening with Ryan Shazier" will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Will W. Orr Auditorium. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event, co-sponsored by the College's School of Business and Department of Athletics and supported by UPMC, is free and open to the community, but registration is required. Seating is open and unassigned. Following registration, a QR code ticket will be sent to the email address provided.

Audience members are encouraged to submit questions for Shazier, collected through their registration forms, for an informative and interactive question and answer (Q&A) session.

"We are so appreciative of UPMC for coming on board to help make this event possible. It's organizations like them that assist in providing great programming for our campus and the local community," said Dr. Martha McGrath-Brown, an assistant professor of sports management in the College's School of Business. "Further, the ability to host leaders like Ryan Shazier on campus allows us to assist in developing individuals that are curious about the world around them and how their gifts and talents can be used to make it better."

Dr. McGrath-Brown will join Shazier on the Orr Auditorium stage, engaging the audience while guiding the conversation as moderator.

A first-team All-American and team captain at Ohio State, Shazier was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft (15th overall) and quickly became one of the league's premier linebackers, earning back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017. In December 2017, a spinal cord injury suffered on the field changed the course of his career and his life. Told he might never walk again, Shazier committed himself to an intensive rehabilitation journey rooted in discipline, faith, and consistency — a comeback that earned him the NFL's George Halas Award and inspired his bestselling memoir, "Walking Miracle" (2021).

Motivated by his experience, Shazier founded the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries. The Fund provides adaptive equipment, financial support, and community resources, partnering with hospitals and major philanthropic institutions to help people regain independence and hope.

As founder of Pluto Ventures, Shazier leads a portfolio of business interests spanning insurance, logistics, and fitness. He is also an Emmy Award-winning storyteller as host of UPMC's "Ryan Shazier's 50 Phenoms," a series spotlighting patients who defied the odds, and a sought-after national speaker who shares lessons on resilience, accountability, and sustained excellence with organizations across industries.

A 2026 participant in Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program, Shazier remains deeply engaged in civic leadership, athlete advocacy, and community development throughout the Pittsburgh region — building systems that empower people to overcome adversity, redefine their limitations, and create lasting impact.

Above all, Shazier's proudest title is dad. He is the father of three amazing boys — Ryan, Lyon, and Legend — who inspire everything he does.

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