While the insular nature and draft system of the NFL does allow for teams less equipped to challenge with the best of them to try to rebuild with the best new talents each year, the unfortunate drawback is that most NFL players end up on teams beyond their home state. In other sports with grassroots, academy, and youth programs under one roof (such as in European soccer leagues) hometown heroes can be forged by their local clubs.

It makes for a special connection between fans, team, and player that simply can’t be understated. In the NFL right now, the shining example of the potency of the hometown hero playing at home is Cameron Heyward. His importance to the Steelers was perfectly showcased when ESPN reported on his three-year, $45 million deal as a defensive lineman aged 35. Validating this is that, even if Heyward wanes, his impact goes far beyond the gridiron.

Giving Back to His Community

Sports is able to bring together a community in ways that few other organizations can. In particular, local fans offer their devout support for the team, following them through thick and thin on the field and off of it. They’ll buy all of the merchandise and side with the products beyond the stadium. This is most prominently and recently seen in the Pittsburgh Steelers community in the relatively new online entertainment space.

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Clearly, being a fan goes beyond the stadium, and so should the role of the leaders of the team and franchise. Cameron Heyward takes this responsibility wholeheartedly. The Pittsburgh-born native is regularly spotted at charitable and community events, often under his banner, The Heyward House. Over the last couple of years, he’s run Cam’s Kindness Week to spread joy in the local community.

A Titan on the Field for His Home City

Upon signing his new three-year deal in September 2024, Heyward said that he wants to be “one of those one-helmet guys,” reaffirming his commitment to his hometown on the field. Claiming that he’s “got more bullets to fire,” despite now being 35-years-old, he managed to crack the top 100 players list for his showing last season. That showing included another First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl call-up despite missing out in 2023 while ranking 45th that season.

Each year, the NFL gives out the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award to players whose excellence transcends the field of play. In 2023, Heyward won the coveted award. Clearly, he’s well recognized for his ability on and off of the gridiron, but what’s special is that he’s doing it for Pittsburgh.
He was born in Pittsburgh and raised there for a time, moving to Atlanta before going to Ohio State to refine his football skills. Despite seemingly tumbling out of favor from a first-round pick to a second-rounder in 2011, the Steelers picked their hometown defensive lineman 31st overall, and he’s paid them and the city back handsomely since.

To date, of all of the NFL players to hail from Pennsylvania, he’s played the third-most games (only behind kicker Robbie Gould and quarterback Matt Ryan) and only trails Aaron Donald in Pro Bowl selections. Heyward is a sporting hero and the perfect example of why players should hope to play for their hometown teams and why teams should aim for local talents in the draft.