Steelers' Cam Heyward named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year; T.J. Watt edged in DPOY voting

Cameron Heyward’s hard work on the field and dedication to improving the Pittsburgh community off it was rewarded Thursday night when the Steelers defensive lineman was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Heyward was announced as the winner out of 32 finalists — one from each team — at the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, where Super Bowl LVIII will be played Sunday.

The award, which capped the two-hour event, was presented by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Heyward, 34, has been the Steelers’ nominee six times in his career, including the past three seasons. He becomes the fifth Steelers player to win the national award, joining Jerome Bettis (2001), Lynn Swann (1981), Joe Greene (1979) and Franco Harris (1976).

Watching Heyward win the award was his mother Charlotte, wife Allie, coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan among other Steelers executives.

Each of the 32 nominees receives a $55,000 donation to the charity of his choice. Heyward, as the man of the year winner, gets a $250,000 charitable donation.

“There are a lot of great guys doing great work,” Heyward said before the ceremony. “You have to be happy to just be here.”

The award was created in 1969 and a year later named the NFL Man of the Year award. It was renamed in 1999 to honor Payton, the late Chicago Bears’ Hall of Fame running back and recipient of the award in 1997.

“My dad wore No. 34,” Heyward said of his late father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. “He’s been with me the entire time, every step of the way. I didn’t know another 34 was helping me, this man Walter Payton.”

In 2015, Heyward established the Heyward House Foundation, an organization focused on youth that notes, “every kid needs to have one person who is in their corner, rooting for them at all times.”

During the NFL season, Heyward hosts what is known as “Cam’s Kindness Week.” He is involved in charity work in different segments of the Pittsburgh community during that week.

Heyward thanked his mother’s contributions to his life and charitable work.

“When my dad passed away, there was only one person who stepped up for my family, and she stepped up for my foundation,” he said.

The news wasn’t so good for two other Steelers players who were finalists for their respective awards.

T.J. Watt will have to wait to become a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner.

The Steelers outside linebacker was edged for Associated Press honors by Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Also, cornerback Joey Porter Jr lost the award given to the NFL’s top defensive rookie to Houston Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr.

Nothing I’m not used to.

— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) February 9, 2024

Watt, 29 and the 2021 recipient, lost to Garrett despite leading the NFL in sacks for a record third time. Other finalists were the Dallas Cowboys duo of Micah Parsons and DaRond Bland and Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby.

Garrett had 23 of a possible 50 first-place votes. Watt had 19, Parsons seven and Bland one. Garrett finished with 165 total points compared to Watt’s 140. Parsons finished a distant third with 89 points.

It continued an offseason trend. Garrett also won the Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News awards for the league’s top defensive player. The AP award is the recognized award.

In 2023, Watt finished with a league-high 19 sacks. He also totaled 19 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He ranked in the top five in the NFL in each of those categories, marking the second time in three seasons he has accomplished that feat.

Garrett supporters pointed to his impact beyond the 14 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 30 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles he compiled in 16 games this past season. He was the best player on a playoff team that relied on five quarterbacks on offense, and he was the star defender on a unit that ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

Greene is the only Steelers player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award twice. Other Steelers who have won the award are Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, James Harrison and Troy Polamalu.

Porter was named to the PFWA all-rookie team earlier this offseason. He didn’t move into the starting lineup until almost the midpoint of the regular season and finished with one interception, 10 pass breakups and 42 tackles. Almost from the moment he moved into the starting lineup, Porter was tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top wide receiver.

Other finalists were Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles, Kobie Turner of the Los Angeles Rams and Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks.