Updates

Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle Cameron Heyward has been selected as the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award, presented by Nationwide, is the league's most prestigious honor and acknowledges NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game. Established in 1970, the award was renamed in 1999 to honor the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton.

All 32 nominees will be recognized for their contributions to the game and their communities prior to the kickoff of Super Bowl LVIII. The Man of the Year pregame moment will include the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, presenting the award to Heyward.

“Cameron Heyward's character and contributions to his community are recognized by his teammates, the community, and greater NFL family," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “As a Pittsburgh native and a Steeler, he has made a unique contribution to his hometown through his dedication to literacy, mentorship and social justice. His leadership through initiatives such as The Heyward House Foundation, Suiting Up for Success and the Voices of Hope Scholarship have provided those in need crucial support in a time of need. We are extremely proud to name Cameron Heyward as our 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year."

Over 13 NFL seasons, Heyward has been a leading voice in the locker room and his 80.5 career sacks are the most by a Steelers defensive lineman since 1982 and the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle. In his nine seasons as a defensive captain, his 116 tackles for loss and 177 quarterback hits both rank third among active defensive linemen. Heyward has earned six Pro Bowl selections, three AP First Team All-Pros, three PFF First Team All-Pro titles, and two Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL nods. Heyward is the second Steelers' interior defensive lineman to be voted AP First-Team All-Pro more than once.

Growing up with his mother and his three brothers after the death of his father, Craig, Heyward was exposed to the struggles families in a single-parent household face. Heyward cherishes family and instills the value of service to build a lasting legacy. He founded The Heyward House Foundation in 2014 to tackle hunger, fight cancer, support literacy, and champion students and teachers. Heyward launched the Rufus and Judy Jordan Literacy Project as a branch of the Heyward House Foundation in 2020, honoring both of his late grandparents, who were long-time educators in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Heyward installs Little Free libraries in underserved communities and has provided more than 9,300 nutritious meals for kids. To honor his father, an education advocate who died of brain cancer, Heyward and the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation raised $40,000 in scholarships to help brain tumor patients and their families who are pursuing post-secondary education.

A six-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee for the Steelers, Heyward’s outreach projects have had an impact on the community. When an injury sidelined him for six games in the 2023 season, Heyward invited local high-school athletes who were also injured to the Steelers' practice facility to watch practice, meet the team, and discuss overcoming adversity.

Heyward's second annual Cam's Kindness Week, began at a local children's hospital where he recorded a book reading for patients, hosted a Kindness Week Kickoff Party, and purchased meals for staff, healthcare workers and patients’ families. He spoke to students affected by the social justice system or struggling with the loss of a loved one and emphasized the importance of working to achieve their goals. Cam's Kindness Week culminated with the opening of the newest location of Craig's Closet, a facility founded in 2018 that provides young men with professional attire for job interviews and internships. Craig's Closet has 16 locations around Pittsburgh and has helped more than 700 young men through Heyward's Suiting Up for Success mentorship program.

Heyward will receive a donation of $250,000 for a charity of his choice. Each Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee will receive up to $55,000. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.

To learn more about all 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees, visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.