Thursday, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward spoke to the media after practice. He was asked about how important it is to pass on the Steeler legacy to the younger players.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Head Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers walk off the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Steelers' Cam Heyward is Teaching the Legacy to the Younger Generation
In response to the importance of indoctrinating this new generation of players into the “Steeler way,” Heyward had this to say:
“I don't want to look at me as just passing it on, I think it's living in it, being a part of it. There's a respect there that I was given as a young guy coming to this team. I think you know what you need to uphold and you want to be a part of that, to be a part of it. You know you got to be willing to give of yourself so nobody ever has to come to you and said, ‘Hey Cam, you need to do this.’ You just take it upon yourself to do it and embrace it and understand it.”
The Steelers certainly have a rich tradition of excellence and have become well respected as one of the greatest franchises in the NFL. On being a part of that storied history Heyward said:
“To be a part of such a historical team, there's a way we do things around here and there's a way you go about carrying on the legacy.”
Heyward also addressed the concept of putting in the hard work and waiting his turn behind the great players who came before him and how that helped him become a better player.
“I think for me when I got here, these guys were coming off the Super Bowl and coach Mitch [John Mitchell] made it clear to me that, ‘You know you're not going to start right away. I got my play-makers.’ So for me, it was just about being a sponge and absorbing as much as I could.”
They would have their old guy meetings, they'd be upstairs watching TV and I just wanted to sit there and be a part of it. I came to work every day trying to get better, but understanding the relationships I got from that; understanding how they went about their business was huge for me, they made me a better pro because of it.
Heyward was also asked about his productivity improvements during the second half of the season. The reporter asked what he felt had sparked that surge:
“I got my a** kicked in certain games and wasn't happy with it.”
He was also asked about not being selected for the Pro Bowl this season and if that motivates him to perform. Heyward responded:
“Man, I got tons of motivation. You know I can go through the list, but you know something down the road, I'll have to think about, but there are so many things that I need to do for this team that the Pro Bowl comes second."
LATROBE, PA - JULY 29: Pittsburgh Steelers first round draft pick Cameron Heyward #95 laughs during a press conference after signing with the team during training camp on July 29, 2011 at St Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
So far this season, Heyward has 62 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 8.5 sacks.
Do you think Heyward was snubbed for the Pro Bowl? What does Heyward’s senior leadership mean to this young Steelers team? Click to comment below.
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