The Steelers' defensive captain, Cam Heyward, said Wednesday he was unaware that left tackle Alejandro Villanueva was stepping outside what the rest of the team was doing when he wrote the name of Sgt. Alwyn Cashe on the back of his helmet for last Monday night's regular season opener against the Giants.
The NFL permitted players to put the initials or names of victims of police shootings or racial injustices on the back of their helmets in Week 1 and the Steelers chose as a team to put the name of Pittsburgh teen Antwon Rose on their helmets.
Rose, 17, was shot by East Pittsburgh police during a traffic stop while investigating a drive-by shooting in 2018.
But Villanueva, a decorated Army Ranger veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan prior to joining the Steelers, wrote the name of Cashe on the back of his helmet. Cashe, like Rose, an African American, was killed while rescuing six members of his team in Iraq in 2005 from a burning vehicle.
The Steelers had said previously, whatever they did as a display against social injustices, would be done as a team, so Villanueva's decision to step outside of that was a surprise.
"Honestly, I was unaware," said defensive end Cam Heyward. "We had discussed it before. It was brought up to us. That's for him to comment on in the future. He's his own man. We're going to move forward."
Rose's mother, Michelle Kenney, took offense with Villanueva's gesture, posting on Facebook that she felt it showed he didn't approve of the team's message.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers took a team vote," she wrote. "Obviously one person didn't like the results so they chose to do something different. I have nothing against vets and absolutely appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do for us. But this one person showed us exactly who he is and obviously did not approve of how the vote turned out. In my opinion; that's for his coach, team and organization to address NOT ME! ... I'm going to use this negative press and negativity to motive me to hold the Pittsburgh Steelers even more accountable!!!"
This is not the first time Villanueva has been separated from the team during an issue involving social justice.
In 2017, when players across the league were being called out for kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, the Steelers chose to stay in the tunnel during the playing of the anthem for a game in Chicago as a way to stay out of the fray. But Villanueva went to the edge of the tunnel and stood with his hand over his chest during the playing of the anthem.
Players, including Ben Roethlisberger and Heyward, said they had planned to be there beside Villanueva but were separated in the tunnel when a game day crew carrying banners stepped in between them.
But, like Heyward, Roethlisberger said he was unaware of Villanueva's decision to wear the name of Cashe on his helmet.
"I did not know about Al's choice for the back of his helmet," Roethlisberger said. "Obviously, that's his choice. That's the amazing thing about the country we live in. Unfortunately, it is what it is."
The Steelers seemed unfazed by Kenney's post.
"We chose this first game to represent her son," Heyward said. "She wants to bring the community closer and that's what we've got to do. Was it perfect? No. But we wanted to support her and her family."