Steelers' Cameron Heyward Is Recognized For His Leadership Yet Again By Joining The NFLPA

After their annual meeting of the Board of Player Representatives, Heyward became one of the newest players to join the board. The NFLPA actually elected four new members to its executive committee as Alex Mack, Jason McCourty and Richard Sherman are exiting. Along with Heyward, also joining the updated committee are New York Jets' long snapper Thomas Hennessy, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Oren Burks and Houston Texans' quarterback Case Keenum.

Heyward, during his more than a decade in the league, has not only become a household name, but also has earned the respect of his peers. If being the Walter Payton Man of the Year didn't prove that, then Heyward being given the responsibility of acting on the committee certainly does. It's one thing to excel on the field; it's on another level entirely to truly win the respect of your peers, and Heyward has done that many times over.

Whether the committee has a hand in the CBA, wage disputes, insurance, or a myriad of other issues, the role it plays in the league cannot be overstated. Heyward will be trusted with the livelihood of his fellow players, and considering the experience he brings to the position, they are certainly in good hands.

Heyward, along with the other three new Committee members, will be joining the six previously-elected players. Those members include Calais Campbell, Michael Thomas, Ryan Kelly, Austin Ekeler, Brandon McManus, and Thomas Morstead. Along with those members, each team elects player representatives who ensure that their organization's issues are being heard.

Steelers' Heyward Hopes For A Healthy 2024 Season

Despite the fact that he is entering his 14th NFL season, Heyward doesn't seem to have lost any of the fire he has for the game. The veteran defensive lineman missed time in 2023 due to injury, but the moment he got back onto the field, the energy was immediately felt throughout the defense. After having surgery to make sure everything looks good, Heyward has a positive outlook for 2024.

Heyward, even with the missed time, had a notable impact on the defense whenever he was healthy. He may have only walked away with two sacks in the 2023 season, but that hardly told the full story. A struggling offense led by the now-fired Matt Canada rarely sustained drives or threatened opposing defenses, which put a lot of the burden onto Heyward and his defensive teammates. Every single bit of experience was needed to keep the train on the rails, especially the more than a decade that Heyward brings to the table.

Injuries took their toll on the 2023 Steelers on both sides of the football. For a second straight season, Kenny Pickett was kept off the field due to injuries, which made it increasingly difficult to evaluate the former first-round draft pick. Along with Heyward, the Steelers had quite a few other contributors miss time on defense. Kwon Alexander, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Levi Wallace, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Keanu Neal, and rookie hopeful Corey Trice Jr. all spent time on the injury report or had their season ended suddenly.

With all the injuries that stole the spotlight in 2023, depth will be the name of the game for the 2024 Steelers. Whether it is ensuring that Heyward has full confidence in whoever steps in for him on the defensive line or a cornerback able to play multiple positions, Pittsburgh is eager to show that they have learned from a rough season. If they can make the most of their healthy players and bring in enough depth to make up for inevitable injuries, 2024 may hold much more success for the Steelers than 2023 did.

What depth players should the Steelers sign ahead of 2024?