Cameron Heyward’s NFL journey is not his success alone! Playing as a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he takes inspiration from his late dad Craig, and motivation to push forward from his mom, Charlotte. Being a mentor and agent after Craig’s passing, Cameron made it through the college recruitment process with Charlotte’s support, as he played for Ohio State.

Drafted by the Steelers in 2011, Cameron made it back to Pittsburgh. And, it was indeed quite a proud moment to return to his native city and continue his father’s legacy. With Pro Bowl selections and continuing with a strong season in 2024 alongside his brother Connor, with whom he shares the Steelers’ locker room, he is truly making his parents proud.

Who Are Craig Heyward and Charlotte Heyward?

Cameron’s dad, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, has a distinct NFL legacy of his own, playing as an NFL fullback during his tenure that stretched for 11 years. During that, he made noteworthy stints with teams like the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons. One can indeed discern from his nickname “Ironhead,” that he was quite a force in the fields.

Being a first-round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, Cameron’s dad’s life took a devastating turn in 1999. He faced a major health scare due to a brain tumor, causing vision loss in his right eye. However, he still maintained positivity for his family. At the age of 39, Craig however left for the heavenly abode in 2006, as Cameron misses him dearly every day.

Cameron’s mom, Charlotte Heyward, who is a Pittsburgh native, has maintained strength despite losing her husband to a tumor. She undertook the gigantic task of raising her children after Craig’s death. And, her eldest son, Cameron, has never failed to express gratitude towards her.

CBS News highlighted his appreciation for his mom, i.e., his rock, in an article published in 2016, where Cameron stated, “She did all the work. Raising three sons, after my father passed away was very hard.” He further remarked, “She was my right-hand man. She knew what to ask. She knew what to look for.” Charlotte is his rock and his ultimate cheerleader. “My mom had to be the one who told me. It was hard for her to share that with me, but I understood the strength she showed,” he recorded in an interview shared by Pittsburgh Steelers back in Dec 2023. She was his first agent, and his biggest supporter to help him stay on track.

How have Cameron Heyward’s parents been a strong influence on him?

Cameron Heyward seeks to honor his parents through his NFL accomplishments. Talking about his father’s career he said, “My dad has a legacy, and now I want to continue to expand it,” in the YouTube video by Pittsburgh Steelers from 2023. Things had changed drastically after his dad’s demise.

As he notes in the video, “I was deciding where I was going to go in college to play football, thinking my dad was going to be the biggest resource for me… My mom stepped up in that moment.” It was then his mom who became like an agent for him, running around and asking coaches as she became the guiding light for him.

Seeing him enter the NFL world was her dream come true. Both of her sons, Cameron and Connor play for the Steelers, and hailing from Pittsburgh, Charlotte cannot be prouder.

Steelers noted it in its 2022 article, highlighting the significance of the moment, as she remarked, “We never raised our kids to play thinking that they would play professional sports. I never thought they’d play professionally, let alone play together and in the city where I was born.” For his mom’s effort, he regards her very highly as he calls her his backbone. And, it constantly motivates him to achieve new heights for his parents.