- [Andrew] For Pastor Vernon Shazier,

being a father is oneof his proudest roles,

and ever since his boys were little,

Vernon had a special way heconnected with them: football.

- Whenever I watched my sons play sports,

I lived vicariously through them.

And so, when I saw Ryanrunning, I was running.

When Ryan made a tackle, I made a tackle.

- [Andrew] As for Ryan, hisdad's support and prayers

helped carry him throughstellar high school

and college football careers.

- Every game, I'll talk to you

and we'll pray before every single game.

For some reason, I had nosignal in the locker room

and I could not get a hold of you.

The team was literally aboutto run out on the field

and I was like, "Coach,I'm not gonna run out

"until I talk to my dad.

"I gotta talk to my dad before this game."

I have God watching over meand you watching over me.

- The Pittsburgh Steelersselect Ryan Shazier.

- [Andrew] In 2014, Ryanachieved his lifelong dream

and was a first roundpick in the NFL draft,

and his dad and familywere right by his side.

- Seeing Ryan get drafted into the NFL

was an incredible experience and moment.

You want to see your child do well.

You want to see themaccomplish their goals

and their dreams, and on thatevening, we witnessed that.

- [Andrew] As a hard-nosed linebacker

for the Pittsburgh Steelers,Ryan helped his team

make the playoffs two years in a row.

In 2017, the Steelers wereonce again playoff-bound.

Then, on December 4th at a"Monday Night Football" game

against the Bengals, a bone-crushing play

left Ryan motionless on the field.

- I took the call and thefirst words I heard was,

"Ryan is hurt, Ryan ishurt," and so I say, "Okay."

The phone rung again.

It was Ryan, and he said,"Daddy, pray for me.

"I can't feel my legs."

- [Andrew] Ryan hadsuffered a spinal contusion

in his lower back.

Doctors said he may never walk again.

- I said, "Okay, God,you need to fix this."

- [Andrew] Within days, Ryan had surgery,

but as several weeks passed,he made little progress.

Outwardly, Vernon tried to be strong

for his family and his son,

but even the pastor of over 20 years

admits he often found itdifficult to trust God.

- I was at war,

you know, fighting with my anger,

rassling with my faith.

"Why has this happened?

"Why haven't you fixed it yet?

- My plan, I would say, I wanted to be

the best football player in the world.

I always felt like, "Lord,

"I don't feel like I'mdoing anything wrong.

"Why did I have to gothrough this situation?"

- [Andrew] Watching Ryan suffer,

Vernon would have doneanything to help his son.

- And in my mind, I was saying,

"Switch with me, switch with me."

I was willing to changeplaces with my son.

I was willing to take on hispain, his being paralyzed,

and give him my body, give him my legs.

- [Andrew] After monthsof wrestling with God,

Vernon realized it wastime to fully trust God

with Ryan's life and future.

- "Vernon, are you going to believe

"what you say you believe?

"Are you going to believe

"what you've been preaching and teaching?"

"And my whole family,this whole situation,

"I'm placing it in your hands.

"I'm giving it to you."

And I just said, "God, I'm all in."

- Me and him were kinda goingthrough the same struggles.

When I actually started focusing

and talking back at God andbeing more involved with God

and actually leaningon God, I actually seen

that I was transitioning,getting better at rehab,

getting better in life.

Sometimes, God is just wantingto see how strong you are.

Are you willing to fight?

- [Andrew] And fight they did,

because Ryan's journey was far from over.

But now, they focused less on the problem

and more on the gains, nomatter how small along the way.

- Me and my dad always thank the Lord.

Every time something goodhappened, it was just,

we called it a first down.

Ryan, you're doing well.

That's another first down.

(feet stomp)

- [Andrew] Ryan continuesto progress today

and has come a long way.

From being told he'd be paralyzed for life

to being able to dance at his wedding.

- Remember the moments inwhich we feel hopeless.

But there, he was standingand he was dancing

and I knew it was nothing,it was nobody but God.

- [Andrew] Football remains a big part

of the Shaziers' lives.

In addition to being an avid fan,

Vernon is also an NFL chaplain.

As for Ryan, the Steelersare keeping him on

as a consultant.

The father and son still make time

to talk often and reminisce.

- What just happened?

(Ryan laughs)

And I said, "This boyjust fumbled the ball

"and kicked it out theback of the end zone.

"He just blew my touchdown."

- Oh man, that's crazy.

You know, we ended up winning the game

so we got, it was all right.

- Today, as a father, when I see Ryan,

he's moving, he's walking, it'sa joy that's undescribable.

All types of emotionswill run through you,

but your faith will keep you anchored

if it's anchored in God.

(inspirational music)