From substitute teacher to NFL: Steelers RB is ready to ‘make a name’ for himself

The Steelers could be without two of their top three running backs this week as Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) are sidelined with injuries.

However, that has created an opportunity for one player who was substitute teaching not too long ago.

Running back Aaron Shampklin is the next man up behind running back Najee Harris, but while he was waiting for his next opportunity in the NFL, he was using his economics degree from Harvard to teach sixth and eighth grade math.

“Last year I was a substitute teacher at Perry Lindsey Academy. So I worked there at the middle school,” Shampklin said. “I worked in the front office, and if a teacher didn’t show up for the day, then they would have me in a class. Then they realized I was pretty good at math, so the majority of the time I was teaching a math class.”

While Shampklin enjoyed giving back to the community he grew up in in Long Beach, California, it was always his dream to play in the NFL.

That’s why he made it a point to stay in shape with no idea when his next opportunity would come.

“I would train early in the morning, and then finish training, go home, shower and then go to work,” Shampklin continued. “Then sometimes I would go to work, and we would train at UCLA after work. I trained every day.”

His second chance with Pittsburgh came last month when he signed to the team’s practice squad. Then last week, he was elevated to the active roster ahead of the Steelers matchup against the Indianapolis Colts during which he received his first NFL carry.

That was his only carry of the game, but it has given him some much-needed confidence heading into Week 5.

“It feels good to knock it out, to really get the feel of real game speed, which is a change obviously from college,” he added. “So now that the first one’s out the way, I feel more comfortable going into this week.”

It remains to be seen what Shampklin’s exact role this week will be, but if Warren and Patterson are unable to play, he’ll be in line for his biggest workload yet.

That would give him the opportunity he’s been waiting for to prove that he belongs in the NFL.

“I got the first game out the way but it’s a long season. I really haven’t made an impact like I wanted to,” Shampklin said. “I’m still trying to make a name for myself and try to show that I deserve to be here.”

Shampklin has had quite the journey since going undrafted in 2022. He also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys (2022), Indianapolis Colts (2022), United Football League’s Houston Gamblers (2023) and Los Angeles Chargers (2023) before joining Pittsburgh this year.

He never came close to giving up on his NFL dream, though.

“Honesty, anything can happen,” Shampklin added. “You just got to take it day by day. Don’t look at the long run. Look at the moment you have. This practice. Take it like it’s a championship day. You never know what might happen.”

Now with a chance to establish a role for himself on the Steelers, he’s hoping another one of his dreams will soon come true, too.

“One of my dreams was always to be in ‘Madden,'” he laughed. “So hopefully that day is coming soon, too.”