Steelers podcaster gets unexpected friendship after sharing story of mental health struggles
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (NITTANY NATION) – September means the beginning of two things – the NFL season and Suicide Prevention Month. But what do they have in common?
For Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth and Pittsburgh podcast host Zachary Smith, it is part of their origin story of becoming friends.
"I'm grateful for the person he's shown me to be," Smith said.
To truly understand this newfound friendship, you have to go back to March 18, 2017.
"I share a message every year that same date because that is the date I almost took my life," Smith said. "That (date) is now what I call my second birthday."
Months before his 22nd birthday, Smith was without a job, envious of the success others had around him, and not loving where he was in life.
"At that point, I wasn't even sad. I was just numb," Smith said. "I was done, and I was just ready not to be here anymore like I felt absolutely nothing."
After a late-night drinking at a bar, Smith reached his lowest point.
"Instead of walking home from there, I walked past my home to the bridge," Smith said. "That's where I decided this was going to be it."
The one thing that stopped him was his grandmother's necklace he laid it on the bridge, reminding him of the family he would leave behind.
"When I closed my eyes, I saw my grandma, I saw all of my family and that's my epiphany," Smith said. "I said this is the reason I'm supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to be gone yet. So literally, the only reason I'm still here right now is because of the best family in the world."
Months later, Smith started a Pittsburgh Sports Podcast called "Around the 412" and began to find self-love and appreciate his family he almost left.
"I would have never gotten to see my niece and nephew grow into the people they are at such a young age," Smith said while choked up. "That's who I think about first and foremost. My sister got married a couple of years ago (and I) would have never seen that."
"There's just a lot of things that have that have happened over the last few years that I just couldn't imagine not being here for."
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Every year on March 18, Smith shares a message on social media, trying to be there for others who may be undergoing a similar struggle.
"I can post a message every single day talking about it," Smith said. "It's the reason I have my (direct messages) open is for people to be able to talk about the mental health struggles that they're going through."
Out of all of the messages he's received. This past March, he received an unlikely one from Freiermuth.
"(It was) obviously very unexpected," Smith said. "You've seen the (parody) accounts like 'Freiermuthburg,' I literally thought it was a fan account."
Nope, it happened to be the real deal. In the previous few months, the two have gone to Pirates games, played in celebrity softball games and helped out at youth football camps.
"I feel like he was meant to be in Pittsburgh like I feel like he really embodies what this city appreciates in its people," Smith said.
Over time, Smith has gotten to now know what Freiermuth is like on and off the field.
"He is what you see him as, he's a goofy guy, loves to have fun," Smith said. "(Freiermuth) definitely loves his family and friends, which I know they mean the world to him, which I feel like is another good indicator of why he was the person he was that day to send me that message."
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It also shows how much one uplifting message can mean to others.
"I couldn't have imagined that one message, that one day that it would turn into the friendship that it's become since then," Smith said.
A friendship that looks to continue for time to come.
