Heyward a perfect leader for Steelers through social issues

Members of the sports world have been utilizing their platforms to let their voices be heard during some very tense social times in the United States. Individual players, as well as entire organizations, have been vocal about their interest in multiple types of reform, and the Steelers have been pretty silent throughout this process.

Team president Art Rooney II released a statement after the death of George Floyd, and the team honored the Juneteenth holiday Friday, but otherwise, players have been relatively quiet on the topics which are dominating headlines.

Don't confuse this with not having leadership within the ranks of the team. In fact, Cam Heyward is the perfect person to be leading the Steelers during these uneasy times. During a virtual meeting with reporters last week, Heyward talked about how he wants to ensure this situation doesn't turn into something similar to the national anthem fiasco, which took place in Chicago in 2017.

"The thing that ticks me off about that is that what we were trying to do was remain out of the spotlight and it got turned upside down," Heyward said. "To know that we were looked at as leaving one of our brothers out, leaving Al (Villanueva) out to dry, when really we got separated by a Play 60 flag that was going through. By the time the National Anthem started, we were separated. It was never meant for us to ostracize a player.

"We’re living in a climate where guys should know they have a platform. And guys should be able to voice their opinions. It’s not for one guy to decide. It’s not for two guys to decide. This is a team that has its own interests at heart. For me or anyone else to say they should do otherwise is not my choice."

As a captain, Heyward knows what his role is when it comes to how to handle these situations with his teammates.

"The captain’s role is just listening and letting guys voice their opinions. If I’m a captain and I think I have every answer, that’s piss-poor by me. We have a lot of different views and guys coming from different backgrounds. All I can speak to is my own background and how I’ve grown up. With the climate we’re dealing with now, a lot of guys have gotten the opportunity to speak. Whether you’re the last man or the first man, I feel like you have a chance to speak."

Ultimately, Heyward sees the bigger picture. His goal isn't just to see short-term results, but to change the culture in Pittsburgh, not just in the locker room during the 2020 season.

"I think we want to stay united in what we do and what we want to accomplish. If we win the Super Bowl, that’s not enough in the city of Pittsburgh. We want to leave lasting change in our community, as well.

"For us, we’re going to have those opportunities to reach out and affect the community. This time around, it was harder because I felt like protesting and nobody really paid attention to the issues Colin Kaepernick was talking about at the time. They were concerned with what he was doing, rather than his message. This time around, you see the evidence and see what he was talking about. It wasn’t like he was just blowing smoke. These are real issues that really affect our communities. It’s a chance for a lot of guys to speak up.

"We all have different backgrounds and we all have seen these tragedies happen. It’s gotta stop. I can only speak as a black man and these issues really hit home because my family is going to have to deal with these issues for the rest of their lives."

Times like these call for extraordinary people to lead others in the right direction. Heyward is that player for the Steelers, and they should be happy to have him. A level-headed approach geared towards long-term results, and change, is an approach the entire organization can get behind as they prepare for the 2020 regular season.