On Wednesday kicker Chris Boswell became a United States citizen in a naturalization ceremony held in the Pittsburgh area, something he has worked hard to achieve over the past few years.
Now, Suisham is on the road to achieving something else he has been working hard toward the past six months, getting back on the football field.
Suisham suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the Hall of Fame game against the Minnesota Vikings last August while making a tackle on a kickoff return. It was a tough season for him not playing, but that didn't mean he wasn't hard at work. From the time he could get on an exercise bike back in early September until today, he has been taking step after step towards recovery.
Suisham hasn't been cleared to kick yet, but the progress is still there.
"I am working every day," said Suisham. "I am still not there yet. I don't have a timetable. I will continue to work.
"It's my goal to get back to 100 percent. At that point I will be able to start kicking again. I don't know when that day is. I am not sure. I will continue to work. I will do everything I possibly can to put myself in a position to succeed."
When the team lost Suisham for the season, they went searching for a veteran kicker to step in and help. They signed Garrett Hartley, but he suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason and was ruled out for the year. The team traded for Josh Scobee, but after struggling he was released. The answer finally came in Chris Boswell, a first-year kicker with no experience who went on to have an excellent season, a lot of that thanks in part to the advice and leadership provided by Suisham.
"I can't even put it into words how he helped," said Boswell. "He really took me under his wing and tried to prep me as the season went on."
Suisham was happy to help Boswell along the way, but that doesn't mean he won't be fighting to return to familiar territory as the team's kicker for 2016.
"I certainly have no intent of stopping what I have been doing in the NFL," said Suisham. "Hopefully I will be back. First thing I need to do is get healthy, get my knee healthy, and second thing get back to my old form. If I am healthy I think I will be in good position to get my job back. What the future holds I have no idea. I love being a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers and I have no intention of relinquishing that without a fight.
"I love it here. I have zero interest of giving my job away."
