By all indications, Ryan Shazier is content and happy with his life. Accompanied by his wife and son at Acrisure Stadium for Pittsburgh Steelers alumni weekend festivities, the former Pro Bowl linebacker spoke about how his life now is fulfilled by being a father, husband and business owner.

“Obviously, my true passion was always football,” Shazier said before Sunday’s Steelers game against the New York Jets, “and unfortunately for everybody it has to end one day. Mine ended a little bit earlier than I wanted to — but I definitely love what I am doing now.”

For Shazier, that involves business ventures and family time. But as a prominent former NFL player whose career ended by way of an on-field injury, Shazier’s opinion on player safety carries some weight.

Shazier saw how a concussion forced Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of a game Thursday night. Echoing the sentiment of other players — including former teammate and current Steelers co-captain Cam Heyward — Shazier said players need others to protect them from themselves in regards to head injuries.

Interestingly, though, Shazier didn’t cite coaches, team medical staff or even the on-site independent neurologist at NFL games. He instead believes players have a responsibility to each other.

“The biggest thing is for us to hold ourselves accountable — but (also) to have someone really close to you that holds you accountable as well,” Shazier said. “If I (during a game) wasn’t feeling well on the field, (Steelers linebacker and former teammate T.J. Watt) woulda let someone know, ‘Hey, Ryan doesn’t look like himself.’ Or (former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams) would say, ‘Ryan doesn’t look like himself.’

“And I think we just have to have more guys in the locker room who will hold us accountable for ourselves. Because obviously all of us want to win — but sometimes we need to hold each other accountable more too, when it comes to health, not just wins.”

Shazier noted the difficulty that a player might have in removing himself from a game. Not just because they might feel as if they are letting their team down but because highly-competitive professional athletes are goal-oriented and driven to achieve.

“Just like anything in life, if you really want something bad enough, even if you are not feeling 100%, you are gonna (be compelled to) give the best you have,” Shazier said.

“You’re going to work and if you feel like you need to give extra effort to get this (job) promotion or (achieve) this (goal), you are gonna do that — and that’s how football players think when they are playing football.”

Shazier admits he misses the camaraderie of a locker room and the shared common goal of preparing to win a game each week. But almost five years since his career ended during a December 2017 game in Cincinnati, Shazier also recognizes his new life and is embracing it.

“I definitely have that moment, I think I wouldn’t be a human if I didn’t look back and have moment where I was like, ‘Hey I wish I was still be playing,’” Shazier said. “This would be my ninth year, it’s crazy how time flies by. And I just look at guys that been drafted with me who are playing like sometimes it’s really crazy to think (three-time NFL defensive player of the year) Aaron Donald is in the same (2014) draft class as me, (Pro Bowl wide receiver) Mike Evans and those guys, and it’s just, ‘Man, these guys are doing great in the league and they are still playing and showing everybody we had a really good class.

“It would have been great just to be amongst those guys — but God had a different plan for me. And I can think back on the past and just wish — but you know, wishing on the past doesn’t help me try to help provide for my family and help for a better future, so I just try to stay there for a minute or two but keep on moving.”

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