Steelers' Troy Polamalu Takes Massive Pride In Watching Cam Heyward: 'Cam's Been A Steeler To The Bone'

Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Troy Polamalu called it a career after the 2014 season. The only teammate he has left playing for the current team is Cam Heyward. Polamalu was one of the veteran leaders while playing with Heyward. As Heyward enters the offseason before his 14th season in the league, he has now taken on that mantle of veteran leader. The humble USC product doesn't take any extra credit for the role model that Heyward has become.

On Tuesday, Polamalu was on the Chipped Ham and Football podcast with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers beat writer, Brian Batko. The former star defensive back said that, in Pittsburgh, leaders must set the standard. When he arrived in the city in 2003, that example was set by 2001 Walter Payton Man of the Year running back, Jerome Bettis. 

"I had no other influence on Cam than any other predecessor to me," he said. "Cam has been a Steeler to the bone. He has created his own legacy within himself. Some players just have that personality. He is just a joy to be around and he's a great football player."

Heyward was awarded the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for 2023 following his sixth nomination. Heyward has been incredibly active in helping others in the Pittsburgh community through his foundation. While his contributions on the field in 2023 were limited due to a myriad of injuries that forced him to miss six games, his commitment to bettering his community is certainly aspirational. 

Polamalu expressed it's been great to watch Heyward's journey in Pittsburgh. Watching him grow from rookie to grizzled veteran has been special for the four-time AP First Team All-Pro. 

"It's been great that he's been part of the Pittsburgh Steelers for so long and God willing will be able to retire there," he said. "I think he's the only teammate I have left that's still playing. I love Cam and I still talk with him all the time."

Heyward carries a big price tag as he enters the final year of a four-year extension he signed with the team in 2020. It's been speculated that the team will do some sort of maneuvering to lower his cap hit from the $16 million it's at right now. Heyward didn't like the idea of taking a pay cut when it was brought up to him on his podcast Not Just Football. Heyward is too important to the organization to have his legacy tarnished by leaving in disgust. Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan will need to work towards a solution that will work for both parties. 

Steelers' Polamalu Already Got The Heyward Experience

Often when a former Steelers legend makes an appearance on a podcast, a popular question is who on the current team would you have wanted to play with? For Polamalu, the answer was rather easy as he said, TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. He mentioned that those two plus Heyward are generational-type players, but he's already been a teammate with one of them. 

The former Steeler couldn't keep a straight face as he spoke through laughter that he might leave Heyward off the list.

"I don't know about Cam," he said with a giant grin on his face. "I had my time with him and I definitely don't want to relive that one."

The Steelers' tradition is being carried on by Heyward, who has been a longtime captain of the team. Soon, he will be passing the torch on to Fitzpatrick and Watt. Polamalu expressed his joy in seeing the tradition continue as the leadership passes from one leader to the next in the Steelers locker room, especially on the defensive side.