Ryan Shazier has adopted the lion as his spirit animal throughout his recovery from a serious spinal injury, posting images of the king of the jungle to inspire himself and others.

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Now the Steelers linebacker is the proud papa of a Lyon.

Shazier and his fiancee, Michelle Rodriguez, welcomed Lyon Carter Shazier to the world just after 12 a.m. Sunday, according to Shazier's Instagram account.

The baby boy and his mother both appeared to be doing well.

Shazier has a son, Ryan Jr., from a previous relationship.

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Cuthbert is the county seat of Randolph County, one of 94 Georgia counties that registered more deaths than births in 2024. The county's hospital closed in 2020, leaving longtime state Rep. Gerald Greene to drivce himself 46 miles to Albany while suffering from a kidney stone recently. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC