Pittsburgh Steelers' Fan Favorite Is Hoping To Ignite An NFL Comeback In 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers fans should be excited for the 2023 NFL season, and not just because of the growing hype surrounding the team throughout offseason. Former Steelers' fan favorite, Zach Banner, is eyeing a return to the NFL after rehabbing a devastating knee injury and not playing during the past couple of NFL seasons. There might be a small chance he returns to Pittsburgh, but odds are he will be wearing a different uniform. It's safe to say no matter where he ends up, the Pittsburgh faithful will all be rooting for Banner to succeed. 

Zach Banner Hopes To Play In The NFL Again

Banner has not taken an NFL snap since the Steelers' season opener of the 2020 NFL season when he suffered a torn ACL in a Monday Night Football victory over the New York Giants. Despite being injured, Banner still earned himself a new two-year contract with the Steelers after his deal expired at the end of the 2020 season. 

Banner was placed on injured reserve to start the 2021 NFL campaign and was eventually released by the Steelers after the season ended. After not being able to play recently, Banner has the desire to make a comeback. He expressed this to Steeler Nation's owner, Justin McGonigle.

"I plan on being in a NFL uniform." 

This was good to hear for Steelers' fans as Banner hasn't been heard from much since his release from the team and he continued to rehab his knee throughout the 2022 season. There has been plenty of speculation about whether or not Banner would like to make a return to the NFL, with some wondering if he had decided to retire quietly. Banner took to twitter to address the concerns involving his playing career. 

"I have been missing for a while, and I want everyone to know I've just been working out and training my knee. I have not retired, I'm simply just a bigger man who has needed more time to get past a devastating injury. That is all, carry on."

It is promising to hear Banner is still improving his game and getting stronger even though he hasn't been on an NFL roster. He even responded with some humor by bringing up his size and explained that he isn't a smaller, skill player who can recover from injuries in a quicker manner. 

Banner's Tumultuous NFL Career

Banner played his college football at the University of Southern California and even played for the school's basketball team during the 2013 season, but did not see any playing time. Banner was ultimately selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Despite being selected in the fourth round, Banner was released by the Colts before the start of the 2023 season. 

He originally made the 53-man roster at the end of the team's training camp, but was cut when the team needed to make room for players that they signed off of waivers. 

Banner eventually ended up being claimed off of waivers by the Steelers' AFC North foe, the Cleveland Browns. During his rookie year with the Browns, Banner only played 27 snaps which all came in the team's last eight games of the season. After the season, he was released by the team and was claimed off of waivers once again by the Carolina Panthers during the 2018 offseason. 

Banner did not play a game for the Panthers, as he was released by the team after just two weeks. Banner was finally able to find some stability in his NFL career when he was signed by the Steelers in August of 2018. During his first two seasons with the team he played sparingly and was often featured as the Steelers' sixth offensive linemen in certain personnel packages. He was finally named the team's starting right tackle going into the 2020 season, in which he suffered the torn ACL in the teams first game. 

Banner showed promise when he played before his injury. In his first start towards the end of the 2019 season, Banner did not allow a single quarterback pressure, sack, hurry or hit. If Banner is healthy and back to full strength, it's no doubt that whatever team signs him will be getting a reliable offensive tackle. 

Where would you like to see Banner play Steeler Nation?