Steelers’ Cameron Heyward named team’s nominee for NFL Walter Payton Man of Year award

Chris Adamski
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 9:41 a.m. | Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 9:41 a.m.

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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward collects himself during a game earlier this season. Heyward was named the team’s nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award that honors excellence on the field and in the community.

For a fourth time, Cameron Heyward has been named as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ nominee for the NFL’s prestigious Man of the Year award.

Since 1970, the award has recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Each of the league’s 32 teams has a nominee, and the winner will be announced the weekend of the Super Bowl.

“It means a lot,” Heyward said Tuesday. “I know I have received it from the Steelers before, but I never take it for granted. We have a lot of men in our locker room that are very deserving of the award, but I think I try to do a good job of representing my team, my community, this organization in making sure I can give back.”

.@CamHeyward is our nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, presented by @Nationwide.

RETWEET & reply with “#WPMOYChallenge Heyward” to help him earn a $25,000 contribution to the charity of his choice. #WPMOY

????: https://t.co/n07CmHpLGz pic.twitter.com/piBTqahkqu

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 7, 2021

As a team nominees, Heyward can choose a charity for which a donation of up to $40,000 will be made in their name. The league-wide winner will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

Heyward’s foundation, The Heyward House, has supported a variety of programs and causes since it was established in 2015. He launched the Rufus and Judy Jordan Literacy Program in honor of his grandparents last year and has advocated for brain cancer research in honor of his late father, Craig, who was a star running back at Pitt.

Other charities Heyward has supported include the Boys and Girls Club, the Homewood Children’s Village, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Blessings in a Backpack and Urban Pathways.

On the field, the 11-year veteran is the Steelers’ defensive captain. He’s been named first- or second-team All Pro defensive tackle three of the past four seasons.

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