NFL defensive lineman Cam Heyward has become one of the league’s most respected leaders during his 15-year career, but this season he’s been able to share some of that responsibility with the franchise’s new future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Heyward, 36, who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, helped welcome Rodgers, 42, into the fold this past offseason.
“I love having him here because now he’s the older guy,” Heyward exclusively told NewsPlop of Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in June. “You can have that mantle.”
When Rodgers was figuring out where he was going to sign this summer, some controversy was stirred when Heyward, who spoke to Us via his partnership with AstraZeneca and the Asthma Behaving Badly campaign, bluntly addressed the quarterback’s prolonged search.
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“Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t,” Heyward said on his “Not Just Football” podcast in March. “It’s that simple. That’s the pitch.”
Since Rodgers officially signed with the Steelers, however, Heyward said that’s all just water under the bridge.
“When someone comes onto your team, you just want to welcome them with welcome arms,” Heyward told Us. “I think that’s all we’ve tried to do.”
He added, “I’ve always tried to respect every teammate and I’ve always made sure that I’m there for all my teammates. Throughout this year, we’re all in different parts of our life, but we all just want to be there for each other.”
It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Steelers, who currently find themselves at 6-6 and losers of three of their last four games. Despite that, Pittsburgh is still tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
“We’re coming off a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills [on November 30],” Heyward said. “We weren’t able to get it done. I think the vibe is we gotta get hot on this home stretch. We gotta get hot these last five games and I think that will propel us into the playoffs.”
The Steelers have a crucial game against the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday, December 7, before their schedule wraps up with games against the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and a Week 18 showdown with the Ravens in Pittsburgh.
“As crazy as it’s been, I like to think the postseason is just made for more fireworks,” Heyward added. “Hopefully we’re playing our best ball by then.”
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Heyward, who has suffered from asthma since childhood, discussed how being proactive about his health over the years has been a major key to his success.
“I’ve been dealing with asthma since I was about six years old,” Heyward explained. “I have weather, allergy and exercise-induced asthma. It’s played a pivotal role in my life, working with doctors and trainers and my mom. You know, listening to my body and how I can manage my asthma. Not pushing it too hard. My mom’s favorite saying growing up was, ‘Don’t be a hero.’”
The Steelers star continued, “But I was very hard-headed at times. I would suffer the consequences and sometimes end up in the hospital because of it. I have my inhaler on me at all times. When I’m feeling sick or under the weather, I’m using my nebulizer. It’s led me to be forthcoming and to share my story.”
In an effort to learn more, Heyward is urging individuals to visit AsthmaBehavingBadly.com.