Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers experienced mixed emotions on that evening as they witnessed six-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee Cam Heyward finally win the title. Though Heyward’s humanitarian endeavors to help Pittsburgh’s youngsters are numerous and diverse, one thing is certain—none of them would have been possible without the motivation of his father, Craig Heyward.
Craig, an NFL player in his own right, lost his fight with brain cancer at the age of 39, but his son Cam has kept his memory and the desire for charity alive.
A video celebrating Craig’s legacy and how it inspired Heyward to give back was shown on Thursday night before his acceptance speech.
Heyward’s winning speech was the cherry on top, as if that wasn’t enough to make you cry. It was a tearful one, filled with gratitude for Pittsburgh and the Steelers organization, and a special mention of his mother, whom he described as being crucial to the community work that the Cameron Heyward Foundation is able to undertake.
See below for Cam Heyward’s acceptance speech for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, as well as his tribute to his father.
