First – tell me about the Heyward House- why you chose his charity and what it’s about?
I started about five years ago – I saw guys like Troy {Polamalu} and Brett (Keisel} – how they got involved in the community. I didn’t know how but I knew I wanted to get involved too. I worked with my family and started the Heyward House to help children who were at-risk, the Southeastern Brain Tumor Association and the Asthma Institute. Those are causes near and dear to my heart. As you know, my dad had a brain tumor and I wanted to help people who had those issues.
Children at risk – these are crazy times and I think people don’t realize that this is still the biggest need we have. Just providing them social activities and working with the Boys and Girls Club where my dad grew up attending. If not for that my dad may never have been on a path to get to the NFL.
And asthma – it’s even more of an issue now with Covid-19. We have to take care of each other. My mother told me that when I played sports I couldn’t push it – not to go to far.
The Steelers seem to really foster that community service impetus in players as well – something you’ve noticed?
Especially with the younger guys, they want to have them explore those options early in their careers. They have been awesome in helping me in getting the word out about events, providing video help and even donating back.
I do a birthday club every year for kids in the inner city – we go to Dave & Busters. Just the number of other Steelers that participate – it’s greatly appreciated. That it’s not just me – that they all help – it means the world to me.
You had your own mentors when you started in Pittsburgh – who helped foster your approach to mentoring and leadership – on and off the field?
I had one of the best rooms on the team with that defensive line group – Brett, Aaron, Casey – they had all been to the Pro Bowl but they were great dudes as well. Casey – you just can’t not get along with Casey, He never got enough respect for what he did there – he was one of the top five all-time Steelers because he kept it all together. He was the glue of that team – he knew how to bring the team together.
Brett taught me about life – he was someone I could always confide in. I had just one year with Aaron before he retired, but the day I was introduced to him he spent extra time with me on the bags after practice. The way he interacted with the community – how they supported him during his son’s cancer treatments – it was an inspiration. I still see him at the local sports club and I always appreciated that he was a dad first.
You transitioned now into a leadership role of your own. How hard was that for you and how did you develop leadership style over time?
Brett helped me – he taught me there was a time to be vocal and a time to listen. Listening can go a long way. We all have loud voices in the locker room – especially me! But sometimes you need to take time and step back and assess a problem first. Sometimes leadership is about letting guys figure things out for themselves. Of course there is a time when you also need to step up when needed. But everyone has different personalities and respond to things in different ways. You have to find ways to motivate guys sometimes. And you can’t lead if you don’t do things yourself. If you’re not running to the ball and taking extra time to watch film and in the weight room then you’re not being a complete player – you’re not being a leader.
Speaking of leadership – how did you handle working with coach Mitchell as a young player. I’ve spoken to Brett and Aaron and others about Coach Mitch – he’s not easy on young players?
My first two years were rough! I wasn’t sure he even wanted me – I was like, “Why did you draft me?” I remember the first time I met him, this was after the lockout so we didn’t have OTAs or camp – so I was meeting everyone for the first time in the meeting room.
He said that he didn’t need me and the other young guys to be playmakers. They had 99, 98, and 91. I thought, “Oh shoot – really?” He said we’d have to make the team on special teams. I wasn’t going to be starting any time soon. It was humbling. When you hear that, it can be crushing to your ego. But it made me work harder,
But I always appreciated him. And the things he said then resonate more with me now and motivate me now even more.
Bittersweet seeing guys like Javon go to greener pastures?
I’ve never been against having guys earn what they deserve – and Javon deserves all of it. He was my brother the past two years, but sometimes brothers compete against each other. We’ll still be friends and I hope he’s successful, but I’m competing against him with all I have when I see him on the field! I won’t be taking it easy on him if we line up against each other!
The Steelers seem to have been more aggressive in general as of late in free agency and trades. Have you and the rest of the players noticed this? What do you take form that?
I love the moves. Adding Wormley, Cavon Walker- these guys have had success elsewhere. They can help us more in the rotation and keep is fresh and compete with us. Having more guys, especially as we go to 17 games – having them at your disposal helps keep you fresh at the end of the season and can create more competition.
I think the Minkah trade was funny in a way. We lost Ben and then a week later they traded for Minkah. I was like, “Ok, we’ll ride the defense now!” It let us keep our confidence – it showed us they weren’t throwing in the towel. I appreciated that.
We see a lot of you guys on social media – the team is close and so many players speak to how unusual that is after going to other teams. What makes the team s close and unique?
I think it’s a lot to do with the history and tradition of the team. We had so few coaches over the entire span of the team – its special to have that and it keeps things consistent. Everyone knows what to expect.
And the players don’t settle for anything less than excellence. I know we haven’t made the playoffs the last two years, but it’s not like going to a garbage fire where the team is selling off players. We’re always competitive.
So a lot of it goes to the kind of guys they bring in?
The scouts have done an amazing job – they find the guys that don’t mess up the flow – guys that add to the pot. It’s not just one ingredient that makes guys and the team close, but the differences balance each other out. My job is to foster those relationships between players and to get to know guys on a personal level. No one wants to feel left out – they all have lives and families that affect them.
OK – last one for you. Give me some of your funniest/favorite moments of your time so far in Pittsburgh?
There was an older veteran who liked to talk a lot -the people will go nameless! He was an established vet. Well, it was the rookies’ jobs to bring in the fried chicken or breakfast on Fridays, depending on whether it was a home or away game. When guys didn’t, well, there were war stories of clothes thrown in the cold tub, cars getting towed or moved, keys getting taken…
Well, one time a rookie didn’t bring in the meal and the veteran I talked about just was quiet as the rookie tried to explain himself. The vet later told us he’d handle it. Well, he threw all of his clothes in the cold tub, and the rookie’s favorite hat – one he loved. The rookie snapped – he wanted to find out who did it. He was really angry. But he never found out who did it!
LaMarr Woodley would take guys’ keys – once he took someone’s keys and didn’t give them back – the guy had to stay over night at the facility!
Reminds me of the story by Simmons when Troy was ringing his bell at three-a.m. and Kendall finally sicced his dogs on him, not knowing who it was until a year later when Troy fessed up!
See Kendall is crazy, because Troy lived across the street – there’s no way Kendall shouldn’t have figured that out!
Troy was the consummate joker. He’d tell me the same joke. “I have a joke for you Cam.” “Yeah?” “Cameron Heyward.” That was it. That was the joke. I was like, “Ok, thanks…” But no one gets mad at Baby Jesus!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
