Scarlet Sunrise: Cameron Heyward named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

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Cameron Heyward named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

Cameron Heyward became the second Ohio State football alum to ever be named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He joins former Buckeyes wide receiver Cris Carter, who earned the award in 1999.

The 13-year NFL veteran defensive lineman, who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was recognized at NFL Honors from the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.

Heyward’s charitable work in the Pittsburgh community has made him the Steelers’ Man of the Year nominee six times, including three years in a row. It put him on center stage Thursday night.

The award, which recognizes a player’s off-the-field impact on his community as well as his on-field excellence, has been given out since 1970. It was renamed in 1999 after the late Walter Payton.

Payton, a Chicago Bears legend, wore No. 34, the same number Heyward’s father and former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward also wore. Through the years, Heyward has cited his father, who died of brain cancer at 39, as the inspiration for his community efforts.

“When I talk about my dad, he wore No. 34, and he’s been with me the entire time, he’s been with me every step of the way,” Heyward said after receiving the award. “But I know there was another 34 that was helping me, this man Walter Payton. He’s done so much on and off the field, and he’s changed so many lives, that now I have the opportunity to be part of such a great fraternity in the Walter Payton finalists and winners. I know I can carry this on and take the rock. I can’t run as fast as Walter, and I won’t try, but I’ll make sure I do my part. I want to give a big shoutout to every nominee, every winner here today. There’s no act too small, there’s no act too big, we are all trying to make a difference in so many people’s lives.”

Heyward went on: “I continue to keep doing the work, as I will. This award is great, and I appreciate it, but I understand I’ve got more work to do. I’ve got to make sure I represent this man every day going forward. And so I ask you guys, my brothers, keep doing the work, keep being the positive role models you are. I know it’s not always pretty, I know a lot of people like to talk about the other stuff, but you guys are the change, you guys are making a difference, and I’m just thankful for that.”

The Man of the Year is considered the league’s highest honor and comes with a $250,000 donation in the winner’s name that goes to his charity of choice.

Off the field, Heyward is perhaps most known for the foundation that he started in 2015, The Heyward House. It strives to end childhood hunger, improve childhood literacy, support students and teachers and fight cancer.

In honor of his father, who he lost at just 17, Heyward worked with The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation to make $40,000 in Voices of Hope Scholarships possible. He then debuted Craig’s Closet, another nod to his late father, this one a branch of The Heyward House that provides dress clothes for young men attending interviews or internships.

At 34 years old, Heyward has close to 650 total tackles and 80.5 sacks to his name with the Steelers. But everything he’s done off the field has been even more impactful, like his Blessing in a Backpack program that made more than 9,000 meals available for kids to bring back home for the weekend.

Heyward is this season’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

C.J. Stroud wins AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award

Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud also received a prestigious award at NFL Honors Thursday night. Stroud was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Stroud is the second straight former Buckeyes star to earn the accolade, following in the footsteps of New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

Stroud, the highest-drafted quarterback in Ohio State history, showed some love to his school in his acceptance speech.

“I want to thank Ohio State, Coach Day, Todd Fitch and a ton of Buckeyes out here that have gave me nothing but support and shown a young kid some love all the way 2,000 miles away from home,” Stroud said.

His record-breaking 2023 season featured the third-most passing yards by a rookie all-time and an impressive 23:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Above all else, Stroud led the Houston Texans from worst to first in the AFC South before becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a postseason game.

For more on Stroud’s honor, go here.

Why Will Howard fits what Ohio State needs in starting quarterback

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day looks for an extraordinary trait when evaluating a quarterback to deem if he has starter ability.

When Day met with the local media Wednesday in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, he was asked what Howard’s extraordinary trait is and if it was easier to find given how much film there is on the Kansas State graduate transfer.

Check out what Day said and more here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 204 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 295 days

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