Getty
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday.
Offensive tackle Zach Banner played his final NFL game with the Pittsburgh Steelers almost five years ago. That will remain his last contest in the league.
Banner announced on his podcast Sunday he will end his NFL comeback bid and retire from football.
“For those new to my podcast, thank you for joining. This type of tempo and lack of enthusiasm and pondering every single thought is not usually what I do,” Banner said at the start of the episode. “But this is an emotional day. I’m going to hold it together, I promise. I can’t promise that, but I’m going to try and promise.
“I’m going to retire, as a player.”
Banner also revealed his retirement intentions on social media.
Banner officially spent about five years in the league. He was last on an NFL roster in March 2022 although he’s been attempting to find another opportunity.
Banner appeared on the field during three regular seasons for the Steelers from 2019-21. He made one start in both 2019 and 2020.
Entering the 2020 campaign, he was the team’s starting right tackle. But Banner tore his ACL in Week 1 versus the New York Giants.
During his Steelers stint, he was one of the more popular players in Pittsburgh because of his tremendous size and underdog story. Pro Football Reference lists Banner at 6-foot-8 and 358 pounds.
Zach Banner Announces NFL Retirement
The massive former tackle began his NFL career as the No. 137 overall selection in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft for the Indianapolis Colts. Banner never played for the Colts, though, after he failed to make the team’s roster as a rookie.
He quickly signed with the Cleveland Browns early in the 2017 campaign. As a rookie, he appeared in eight games. Banner played 27 offensive snaps and 18 special teams snaps for the winless Browns.
After a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers the following summer, Banner signed with the Steelers during 2018 training camp.
He didn’t play for Pittsburgh during his first regular season with the team. Banner finally made his Steelers debut in Week 2 of 2019. In that contest, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained an elbow injury, which greatly changed the projection of the team’s season.
Banner appeared in a career high 14 contests during 2019. He often received offensive snaps in formations requiring an extra offensive tackle. But he played well enough to enter the following season as the team’s starting right tackle.
Since his most recent Steelers release four years ago, Banner played in the UFL for the Houston Roughnecks.
Banner Shares His Love for Pittsburgh
As one could have expected based on the fact the team didn’t win any games, Banner described his time in Cleveland as “a [expletive] experience.”
The former lineman said it was nothing against the city of Cleveland. But Steelers fans will be pleased to hear Banner appears to hold Pittsburgh in much higher regard.
“[The Browns] have been struggling for a very, very long time. So I don’t really have to explain that,” Banner said. “But what I can explain is the beautiful, amazing time that I had in Pittsburgh.
“That city, I showed up with two weeks left in training camp (2018). Two preseason games to prove my worth there. I really hit it off with the staff. Really hit it off with the older vets. They kept me on the roster all year. Made me earn it every single day. Built a beautiful relationship with Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert, Mr. Rooney.”
Banner continued, thanking his position coaches in Pittsburgh and the weight room training staff.
He also spoke at length about what it meant to hear “72 is eligible” over the PA system at NFL stadiums when he entered to be an extra tackle for the Steelers. His eligibility on passing plays was part of what led to his tremendous popularity in the team’s fan base.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
More Heavy on Steelers
Loading more stories