By Jacob Jensen
SteelerNation.com
Every Super Bowl winning team has leaders. Someone that comes in and gets everyone focused. The guy that gets the most out of the rest of the guys. The one that picks someone up when they are down. For the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, that man is Cameron Heyward.
Heyward was drafted 31st overall by the Steelers in 2011, coming from the Ohio State Buckeyes. Heyward would win the starting job in 2013, recording 59 tackles and five sacks that season. Heyward had his best season in 2017 when he racked up a career high 12 sacks. Although he produces a great product on the field, he also brings great value as a leader.
The biggest example of Cam Heyward being a leader is when Ryan Shazier got hurt. While Shazier was being tended to by the training staff, Heyward was right there next to him talking to him and trying to calm him down. Then Heyward is shown consoling Vince Williams, who is visible scared for his friend and teammate. Then, as Shazier is being lifted onto the gator, Heyward is shown gathering the troops and getting them focused. This is just one of many examples of Heyward being a great leader.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 18: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers wears eye black with the words 'Iron Head' on them in honor of his late father during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Heinz Field on October 18, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Heyward was fined last week by the NFL for wearing the same message on his eye black. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Heyward is also always a great person to interview post-game after a win or a loss. He has always been a reasonable person who seems to always be thinking about the good of the team. For example, Heyward put things into perspective after a disappointing end to the 2018 season when he said this:
“When you don’t win the games that you’re supposed to and you don’t close out games, there becomes a level of uncertainty and a level of no appreciation because you teams not in the playoffs and you’re not contending for a Super Bowl. When you win, that cures everything and everything can be swept under a rug. But when you lose, there's bad connotations that come along with it and we have nowhere to look but ourselves and we’re responsible for it.” (From the Cook and Joe Show)
Heyward also had this to say on Good Morning Football:
“There’s drama all over the place, but winning games does a lot for an organization.”
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) February 1, 2019
As the @steelers gear up for next season, @CamHeyward says the way to look past all of the noise is to just play ball. pic.twitter.com/tqrNjpNei8
All in all, I just can’t seem to harness my excitement for the 2019 season because the Steelers have multiple players like Cam Heyward. I love the leadership on this team and I love the focus. Heyward has been a huge part of what’s seemed to be a complete overhaul of the Steelers culture. So thank you Cameron Heyward, for being a Pittsburgh Steeler and for being a great leader. It’s our year, so buckle up #SteelerNation!
