Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was named on Friday as the 2019 recipient of the annual Pro Football Writers’ “The Chief Award”, for his cooperation with local media.
“The Chief Award,” established in honor of Steelers’ founder, Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. and presented annually to the member of the Steelers’ organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media that Rooney did, is voted on by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. It was first given out in 1988.
This is the second time that Heyward, who was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, has won “The Chief Award” as he also won it in 2014.
Heyward has been a great defensive captain and leader for the Steelers both on and off the field this season. He enters Week 17 having already registered 79 total tackles, eight sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and five defensed passes. Heyward has also forced one fumble and recovered a fumble this season.
| “The Chief Award” Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Dan Rooney | 2004 | Jerome Bettis |
| 1989 | Dwayne Woodruff | 2005 | Alan Faneca |
| 1990 | Merril Hoge | 2006 | Brett Keisel |
| 1991 | Gerald Williams | Deshea Townsend | |
| 1992 | Tunch Ilkin | 2007 | Alan Faneca |
| 1993 | D.J. Johnson | 2008 | Ryan Clark |
| 1994 | Rod Woodson | 2009 | James Farrior |
| 1995 | Levon Kirkland | 2010 | Ben Roethlisberger |
| 1996 | Chad Brown | 2011 | James Farrior |
| 1997 | Darren Perry | 2012 | Casey Hampton |
| 1998 | Jerome Bettis | 2013 | Ike Taylor |
| 1999 | Lee Flowers | 2014 | Cameron Heyward |
| 2000 | Jerome Bettis | 2015 | Ramon Foster |
| Deshea Townsend | 2016 | Arthur Moats | |
| 2001 | Lee Flowers | 2017 | David DeCastro |
| 2002 | Hines Ward | 2018 | Joe Haden |
| 2003 | Mike Logan | 2019 | Cameron Heyward |
