Steelers Cam Heyward: “This is the opportunity, everybody's gonna be watching.” (Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs 2016 season)
It was one of the worst defeats in Pittsburgh Steelers history. In week 3 of the 2016 season, the Philadelphia Eagles drubbed the Steelers storied defense 34-3. The next week, the stakes were even higher, as the Steelers faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime Sunday Night Football. That kind of pressure would be hard to shake off. But Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cam Heyward went on to have one of the best games of his career. “One thing I’ve learned in my career is if you have one bad performance all you can do is get ready for the next game,” Heyward said. “This is the opportunity, everybody’s gonna be watching.” Heyward notched seven tackles and three sacks, helping to lead his team to a much-needed 43-14 statement win over the Chiefs. Heyward inherited his competitive spirit from his father, former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. Cam lost his father when he was in high school. But his mother advocated for him as he navigated college recruitment and the NFL draft. He found himself playing in the same city as his father’s beloved alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. This season, Heyward says he is focused on pushing himself and the Steelers injury-depleted defense toward a winning season. “I think we can compete with anyone,” he said. Find out about upcoming guests and other news by following Religion of Sports on Twitter or Instagram.