Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Zach Banner

First, how have you been managing to stay ready through this craziness?

I’m just adjusting to a new plan here,  Right now I’m getting stretched out by my brother who’s my training coach and buddy – he came here from college because they closed his school down and is training with me.

Was the contract a relief – getting re-upped by the Steelers?

It’s a big relief yeah, but just to be honest, it’s one of those things that’s a blessing – I’m really appreciative – but it’s just another opportunity. I’m betting on myself really. They wanted me to sign for a couple of years but I just signed for one. I just did a pancake, no pun intended. That’s when you flip it and you get a whole other side. A whole other opportunity.

What did the coaches tell you about your potential role in 2020 – what do they expect from you and how much in the starter contention are you?

The coaches said I had a really good season – they wanted me to come in and do the same exact thing. Coach T last year asked me to come in in good shape and compete at offensive tackle and jumbo tight end. That’s what I did. This year we had a good conversation – he told me that I’d have the opportunity to start. It’s up to me – the opportunity is there.

You looking at other spots as well on the line?

I can play both sides – maybe they make some moves and asked me to play inside but I play both tackles positions really.

When I spoke to you last time it was before your first Steelers camp. Who helped you adjust to the team and city last year – on and off the field?

The offensive line kicks it together. You’d be shocked – Ben sometimes comes out with us. The wisdom those guys share  I just sit back and listen to them and develop my world views as I do so. It’s incredible how smart these guys are. David is a Stanford guy so you get that Stanford stuff! Ben’s experience….The old guys like Pounce and Al – they’re just a bunch of veterans sitting around talking smart. You don’t see a lot of that shared with the media – you have to earn that. I admire how professional they are though to everyone.

They all take the initiative to help others and their non-profits too. We know it’s a messed up world and want to help where we can. It’s shocking just how smart and professional they are.

I think personally, Ramon does a great job for me – still does. I just talked to him – I call him for advice – and he has helped too with networking opportunities and resources here in the city.

It’s not just Ramon. As you know, I like to make friends with as many people as I can. Yinzers taking care of yinzers right? All said, I understand the role I have now as an NFL player. I don’t go out as much as I could – I’m a homebody – I like staying home and playing video games.

Keeping that FIFA title?

Oh yes.

How hard is the loss of Ramon for you and the team?

Ramon is a huge loss in terms of leadership – but it’s up to us to step it up. Myself – other veterans like Dave and Al and Pounce. In the offensive line room we won’t miss a beat – that’s how the NFL works. It’s a letdown to him if he retires and we play like crap. It’s an insult to his career if we went out there and sucked. We have to step up and play well.

Losing Ramon and BJ too – they will be missed. But we have to step it up.

I spoke to Wormley – what does he bring to the defense? I know you two are close.

I appreciate all of the good things he said – but I’m most excited about the person he is. We are really good friends – we signed with the same agency and trained together and hung out at the combine. He’s a really good dude – his wife is really good friend’s with my girl and family.

As a player – he played that 3-4 defensive end – defensive tackle position.  He does it really well – he’ll be a good addition to the team and will definitely have an opportunity to come in and play right away,

You guys were friends due to hanging out at the combine. How much do all of those pre-NFL gatherings affect free agency/rivalries as players seem to be closer before their pro careers begin than many fans realize?

To be honest, NFL rivalries are great for fans, but as a player – and don’t get me wrong, we do get hyped up for division games – but the rivalries are really for fans. There are some guys you don’t like on other teams – but guys like Stanley in Baltimore – I’m friendly with those guys and they’re really cool. So because we’re all friends before the NFL starts, I don’t think a lot of that carries over when we play.

I saw your social media statement about damned if you express yourself and if you don’t.  How do you navigate that as a player and as a “brand”?

That’s a really good question. I admire guys that use social media as a platform to better the world – to speak out against Black violence and inner city issues and other issues.

It’s quieted-down in the NFL – a lot more players on each team. You see it more in the NBA. There are some people speaking out about the world’s issues – making drastic decisions to make points. You have to balance that out though with keeping a job. You don’t want to piss off the people upstairs but you want to use your platform to do good things too.

The balance pisses me off but speaking out is always a gamble. Your name, job, brand – that’s all put at risk when you speak out. 90% of what I want to say I don’t say – but that’s ok because we’re committed to the game. We’re entertainers as NFL players – we’re playing a game for fans. Not that we don’t have passion for the game. But I understand that I’m playing a sport for money. It’s not just the NFL that has those concerns – anyone – you as a writer – you have to be smart about it. I joke with other guys – but it’s all fun and games.

We’re entertainers. There are pros and cons to everything and this I guess is a con. You have to weigh the costs. I love what I do and am grateful for it – don’t get me wrong. There are just some people who use social media in a terrible fashion – to bully people. I bet if those people were in the same room as me they wouldn’t say a thing.

How is your own charity progressing?

Shoot, it’s tough right now with all of this craziness. I’m still focusing though on the three locations that are relevant to me – Tacoma, where I grew up, Los Angeles where I went to school and has needs in South Central, and Guam, where my mother is from and why I’m the first descendant from Guam to ever be drafted.

My B3 Foundation – we’re here to empower young kids and have them go out and give back. A couple of months ago we did a pilot – took kids from my old high school and had them go out and meet kids from other schools once a week and do some character building. The plan is to take kids and put them with other kids in all three locations to help out their communities and build character.

I had 733 community service hours when I was in high school. I helped coach my little brother’s practices. I want to take that model for these kids to use. It’s awesome to show them they can help and care about others’ well-being as mentors. To spread some goodness.

A couple of months ago I also went to Guam for out third kids’ camp. We ran offensive and defensive line drills and helped the coaches with some X’s and O’s – teaching them football.

And we are still doing our annual backpack drive. We got 300 last year – we just have to maneuver with all of this craziness to get that going this year.

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