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Steelers Star Wins Divorce Battle, Protects Millions After Two-Year Legal Fight

Ryan Shazier's incredible recovery from spinal injury continues with a  3-foot box jump - CBSSports.com

Pittsburgh, PA – October 1, 2025

Another dramatic legal chapter has closed for a former NFL standout. Ryan Shazier, the beloved Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker whose career was cut short by a spinal injury, has emerged victorious in a tense two-year divorce battle with ex-wife Michelle Rodriguez.

Shazier married Rodriguez, a model and entrepreneur, in May 2019 after dating since 2016. But their marriage dissolved in January 2024, triggering a prolonged courtroom fight over property, alimony, and division of Shazier’s NFL earnings and investments.

According to OverTheCap and Spotrac, Shazier earned $18.7 million in NFL salary, bonuses, and incentives during his career (2014–2019). That included $9.5 million guaranteed from his rookie contract, and an $8.26 million bonus tied to his 2018 option year. His peak annual salary came in 2018 at $8.7 million following his Pro Bowl 2016 campaign.

After his devastating spinal injury in 2017, Shazier never played another down but remained on Pittsburgh’s payroll through 2019. Since then, his income has shifted to an estimated $500,000 annually as a coach, speaker, and through his philanthropic Shazier Fund, which supports spinal rehabilitation.

Rodriguez sought more than 70% of marital assets, claiming Shazier’s future earning potential as a coach and public figure should be factored into spousal support. She requested permanent alimony and partial ownership of his charitable ventures.

But forensic accountants hired by Shazier’s legal team revealed Rodriguez had misused nearly $1.5 million in joint funds, including luxury travel, private club memberships, and unauthorized transfers to personal business accounts.

Judge Karen Ellison of Allegheny County ruled largely in Shazier’s favor, granting him control of 60% of marital assets (valued around $12 million) and rejecting Rodriguez’s claim on the Shazier Fund. She was ordered to repay $750,000 deemed as wasteful spending, while Shazier will provide temporary support for 12 months.

Speaking after the ruling, Shazier said: “As a husband, I always trusted her with our future. But when trust is broken, all I ask for is fairness. She deserves her share for what we built together, but she cannot take it all.”

For Steelers Nation, the decision highlights once again Shazier’s resilience. Just as he fought to walk again after paralysis, he stood tall in court to protect what he earned. Fans online hailed it as “another comeback” for one of Pittsburgh’s most inspiring figures.

NFL Suspends Entire Officiating Crew Led by Craig Wrolstad After Controversial Finish in Seahawks–Buccaneers Game
October 8, 2025 – Seattle, WA The NFL has officially suspended referee Craig Wrolstad and his entire officiating crew following the explosive fallout from Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup — a 38–35 thriller marred by a string of controversial calls that fans say “handed the game” to Tampa Bay.   According to official NFL.com and ESPN data, the suspended crew — known as Crew 12 for the 2025 season — consisted of: Referee: Craig Wrolstad (#4) – Lead referee, responsible for major penalties such as pass interference and roughing the passer. Known for high penalty frequency (13.5 penalties/game in 2024). Umpire: Brandon Cruse (#45) – Oversaw the line of scrimmage, false starts, and holding infractions. Down Judge: Danny Short (#113) – Marked downfield yardage and sideline progress. Line Judge: Brett Bergman (#91) – Responsible for out-of-bounds and boundary plays. Field Judge: Jeff Shears (#108) – Monitored coverage plays and pass interference calls. Back Judge: Rich Martinez (#39) – Focused on deep coverage and signaling calls. The decision came after widespread outrage over inconsistent officiating in critical moments, which many believe tilted momentum toward the Buccaneers’ comeback. The crew has been accused of enforcing rules unevenly and issuing “late, selective, and phantom calls” in the second half. 🔥 Controversial Moments Leading to the Suspension 1️⃣ Illegal Man Downfield (2nd Half, 3rd & 12 – Seahawks Drive)The Seahawks were flagged for illegal man downfield on a shovel pass to Kenneth Walker — wiping out a first down and forcing a punt. Moments later, Tampa Bay executed a similar play, but the flag was picked up after brief discussion, allowing their drive to continue. That drive ended in a touchdown by Rachaad White. Fans on X called it “ridiculous inconsistency,” arguing that the call was selectively enforced against Seattle. 2️⃣ Phantom Defensive Holding (4th Quarter – Bucs Comeback Drive)On 3rd down deep in Buccaneers territory, officials threw a late flag for defensive holding on Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, gifting Tampa Bay a first down that led to Baker Mayfield’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard. Replays showed minimal contact, with analysts calling it “incidental at best.” PFF later graded the call as “incorrect.” 3️⃣ Late-Game Holding Calls (Final Minutes)As the game tightened, the Seahawks were penalized four times in the final quarter compared to Tampa’s one — including a questionable holding call after a tipped pass   and a weak illegal contact flag during Sam Darnold’s final drive. The penalties set up a deflected interception and the game-winning 39-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin as time expired. “Refs controlled the second half,” one viral post read. “That wasn’t football — that was theater.” The Wrolstad crew, which had officiated four of Seattle’s last five games, already had a reputation for overcalling offensive holding and inconsistent man-downfield enforcement. The Seahawks were 2–2 under Wrolstad’s crew entering Week 5. NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson released a statement Monday night confirming the disciplinary action:   “The league expects consistency, accuracy, and fairness from all officiating crews. After a thorough review of the Seahawks–Buccaneers game, the NFL determined that multiple officiating decisions failed to meet our professional standards.” The entire crew will be removed from active assignments indefinitely, pending further internal evaluation. For Seahawks fans — and even some Buccaneers supporters — the suspension serves as long-overdue validation after what many called “one of the worst-officiated games of the season.” The debate over NFL officiating integrity continues, but one thing is clear: the fallout from Seahawks–Buccaneers has shaken confidence in the league’s officiating more than any game this year.