LAS VEGAS — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony, highlighting the 13-year veteran’s commitment to community service.
Steelers DT Cameron Heyward Wins NFL Man of the Year
Heyward had been the Steelers’ nominee for Man of the Year for three consecutive seasons and received six total nominations.
Heyward’s charity — The Heyward House — will receive a $250,000 donation from the NFL. Founded in 2015, The Heyward House is committed to addressing food insecurities, childhood cancer, and education to affect change among youth.
Each of the other 31 nominees for Man of the Year’s charities will receive a $55,000 donation.
Congrats to #Steelers DL @CamHeyward, the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. 👏
Charity: @97HeywardHouse#HereWeGo | #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/Yax86JKfwL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 9, 2024
“Pittsburgh has meant so much to my family,” Heyward told Steelers.com when he was nominated in December.
“To get to play in this league right next door to where my dad started his football career has been really special. It’s important to me to give back to this community that has blessed my family in so many ways.”
Like The Heyward House, Craig’s Closet — Heyward’s other foundation — was founded in honor of his late father, Craig Heyward. Craig’s Closet helps men from underprivileged backgrounds acquire a custom suit and shoes for job interviews in the Pittsburgh community.
Heyward also hosts “Cam’s Kindness Week,” where he spends each day assisting different sections of the surrounding Pittsburgh area. For his efforts, Heyward was named the NFLPA’s Week 8 Community MVP, earning a $10,000 donation for his charity.
MORE: 2024 NFL Awards Winners
Heyward, 34, was a first-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2011 NFL Draft. A six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, Heyward has posted 80.5 sacks during his career.
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