It would be hard to find a bigger Pittsburgh Steelers fan than Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner. Despite being sidelined since week one, Banner has consistently been a hype man for his squad. It must be paying off because is the lone remaining team to suffer a loss.
When he’s not busy on the field, Banner gives back to students through his B3 Foundation. The B3 Foundation supports student leaders in under-resourced communities in the Greater-Seattle area, Los Angeles, and Guam through mentorship and community engagement. Recently, it was announced B3 Foundation would be giving away a scholarship. The Future Community Leaders Scholarship aims to help college students who want to become local community leaders.
I was lucky enough to talk to Zach about being injured and the B3 Foundation. We also touched on COVID-19’s impact, the NFL’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement and supporting women in sports.
First and foremost, how are you? How is the rehabbing going? How has it been watching your team?
I’m doing really well. My rehab is going ahead of schedule. I’m walking without a brace and my leg is getting stronger every day. Soon, maybe in the next couple weeks, I’ll be cleared to run. The team is undefeated so I can’t complain. It sucks not being able to play, but I’m my team’s biggest fan and I’m so proud of them every day I’m at work.
COVID-19 has really thrown your team’s schedule specifically all over the place. What’s been the most difficult part of the pandemic for you?
The most difficult part is the distance and time from family. I care about their safety though, so I understand social distancing and being smart is the way to go. We’re all in this together right now as a country.
Over the summer, you posted a video of yourself voicing support for women and specifically women working in sports. Why did you feel it was important to post those videos?
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do to support others is just speak up. I have so much respect for the women who work in sports media, in front offices, on teams, and across the sports industry. And for so long there has been a massive need for change in the way women are treated in the workplace, not just in sports but unfortunately in nearly every industry. Why shouldn’t the NFL and its players be on the frontline of that movement?
The NFL committed to doing more for social justice causes. Do you think they’ve kept their word? If not, what more do you believe a league like the NFL can be doing?
I think the NFL has gone beyond just keeping their word. All the time I see the league, and not just players, creating change and keeping the topic of social justice moving forward. They’ve supported so many causes with significant financial investment. But that doesn’t mean more can’t and shouldn’t be done. There is a lot to do to eradicate racism from our society, and we can’t rest on these accomplishments.
The Steelers are off to a phenomenal start this season. What’s been the difference this season?
The difference I would say is our productivity this offseason and time management. With a different schedule and routine than any other offseason because of COVID-19, I’d say we managed all our difficult situations accordingly and have had no setbacks despite being in the middle of a rare pandemic. We were ready to go from Day 1 this season and it’s showing in our momentum.
Your foundation, the B3 Foundation, supports students in the Greater-Seattle area, Los Angeles, and Guam. Recently you announced the creation of the Ron & Vanessa Banner Scholarship Fund. What made you want to help students?
It has always been a dream of mine to help change kids’ lives. Especially when it comes to education, which is one of the key indicators of being able to live a stable and successful life. My parents are both educators and they’ve inspired me my whole life to prioritize education. I’ve watched them give back and help kids for my whole life so naming this fund after them was a no-brainer. Adding the scholarship to our list of programs to provide was simply us raising the bar as a foundation and taking more responsibility for supporting our students in these communities. We are excited to grow the fund and the scholarships we can offer even more.
If it wasn’t football, what would you have liked as a career option?
I still want to go into sports broadcasting after my football career is over. Whether it’s radio, a podcast, or TV (or even some combination of all of it), it doesn’t matter. I love being on camera and on the mic and I believe I’ve been given a gift in my ability to connect with people and entertain. I graduated from USC with a degree in Communications, specifically in broadcast journalism, and I definitely plan on putting that degree to use.
What is your best advice to young athletes?
Put all your dreams and goals down on paper, and don’t look back. If you know you have the talent to chase something in sports, then go get it. You can’t spend time pondering the idea of achieving those dreams. You have to work hard and become infatuated with your work and craft. I’d also tell them that you have to make sure school is a priority. School will open doors for your athletic career and long after your playing days are done, you will need a good education to open doors in the rest of your life.
You can follow Zach Banner on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Additionally, you can donate to B3 Foundation here!
