The NFL is a cruel business. It takes a lifetime of work and effort to even have an opportunity at playing in the league, and still, most players don’t last more than a handful of seasons.
Still, some players try to make a comeback. We’ve seen it with other former Pittsburgh Steelers - Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and plenty others - with varying results.
Another can be added to that list, as former Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner is getting his next shot at landing with an NFL franchise.
Ex-Steeler Zach Banner gets one more shot at the NFL
According to Ari Meirov, Banner worked out with the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The former USC Trojan hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021. At 31 years old, it could be Banner’s last shot to rejoin the NFL ranks.
Banner became something of a fan favorite in Pittsburgh. During his three seasons with the franchise, he’d often serve as a tackle eligible, mostly to give the Steelers a bit more beef in the run game. Still, he only logged two starts at tackle, and his 216 offensive snaps played in 2019 are the most action he’s seen in his career.
A fourth-round pick in 2017 by the Indianapolis Colts, Banner bounced around the league a bit before finally settling in Pittsburgh. But even then, he was constantly shifting from the practice squad to the main roster.
Banner opened the 2020 season as the Steelers' starting right tackle, but tore his ACL in the season opener. He was released in the 2022 offseason and was out of football until landing with the Houston Roughnecks in the UFL last season.
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Banner recently posted a heartfelt message on his X account reestablishing his love for the game, hoping for another opportunity to play in the NFL.
Listed at 6-foot-8, 348 pounds, Banner also said on Wednesday that he’s down 70 pounds.
Nothing is guaranteed for Banner going forward. The longer a player is out of the league, the harder it is for a team to justify a spot on its roster, practice squad, or otherwise. But many Steelers fans hold a soft spot for Banner, and are surely hoping for the best in his comeback attempt.