How the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers recruit went from substitute teacher to NFL RB

PITTSBURGH – In October 2023, Aaron Shampklin was not on the soccer field but in a classroom. The current Pittsburgh Steelers running back was a substitute teacher at Perry Linsley Academy, a middle school in Long Beach, California, to help pay the bills while pursuing his NFL dream. Shampklin focused on teaching math to sixth and eighth graders.

Shampklin was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on August 29, 2023 and did not receive an NFL contract until the Steelers signed him after the season ended on January 17.

Between school days, Shampklin got up early and trained. He would then teach at school and train again at the end of the day. There’s a lot to juggle, especially with Shampklin trying to achieve his NFL dream.

Training can be brutal for Shampklin. He does two workouts a day almost every day and is able to train outside of UCLA for two days on Mondays and Thursdays during the offseason. On Wednesday and Friday, Shampklin and his trainer make the hour-long drive from Long Beach to Malibu to work his lower body on Malibu’s sand dunes. He often does all of this after the day’s lessons.

“We’re at this place called Malibu Sand Dunes. It’s literally a sandhill. So we literally run the sand hill for reps. And we’re there for about an hour and a half. So that definitely helps a lot. For example, we do 40-yard dashes uphill,” Shampklin said.

Still, he developed a routine to help him get there. Shampklin learned how to balance football and life in college. He played for Harvard with a major in economics and managed to get into the NFL by balancing football, a social life and rigorous academic courses.

“It’s difficult,” Shampklin said of his experience at Harvard. “I won’t say it was easy, because it wasn’t easy. It was hard. Above all, it was time-consuming. I mean, if you don’t have the time and effort to put it in, it will be hard for you. Lots of long nights.”

Shampklin would sometimes go to sleep at 2 a.m. and then wake up at 6 for the team’s morning lift. Shampklin was no stranger to sacrifice and a tough schedule. In high school, Shampklin had other offers to attend an FBS school. Washington State, UMass and other teams offered him, but the Long Beach native decided to travel across the country to Harvard instead.

However, all of this hardship helped Shampklin find his way to the NFL. Sometimes Shampklin isn’t sure what kept him going after the Chargers released him a year ago.

“I don’t really know what kept me going, but I just woke up every day, went to practice and just kept the faith,” Shampklin said.

But for Shampklin, it was all worth it. The Steelers signed him to their active roster this week, just two days after his NFL debut. Shampklin only had one carry for five yards, but in that moment his dreams came true.

“It feels good to knock it out and really get the feel of the real game speed, it’s a change from college and stuff,” Shampklin said. “Now that the first one is out of the way, I feel a little more comfortable heading into this week.”

Once housed in the black lockers in the middle of the Steelers’ locker room for overflowing practice squad talent, Shampklin now has a locker right in the back left corner of the room. That alone shows that some of his hard work is bearing fruit.

Shampklin had only been on the practice squad in his NFL career before this week. Now he has the satisfaction of knowing he has an active roster spot, but he still practices every day with the practice squad mentality.

“It feels good to be here, but I can’t stop now,” Shampklin said. “Even though I’m here now, I still have the mindset to do a training session every day.”

Through Harvard, substitute teaching and three more NFL stops, Shampklin is on a 53-man roster for the first time in his career. He will be Najee Harris’ replacement against the Cowboys since Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren are injured and out.

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