Ohio State Legend Cam Heyward Wins Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
The Ohio State Buckeyes were well represented at the NFL Honors on Thursday night, with C.J. Stroud being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and defensive tackle Randy Gradishar being inducted into the Hall of Fame - becoming the 11th Buckeye to be enshrined.
However, perhaps the biggest winner of the night was Buckeyes legend and Pittsburgh Steelers great, Cam Heyward, who was named the NFL Man of the Year.
The award is highly considered to be one of the NFL's most prestigious honors, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes a player for their outstanding service in the community, activities in helping others, and overall excellence on the field.
Every nominee, regardless of whether or not they're named the official Walter Payton Man of the Year, will receive a donation of up to $40,000 that will go toward the charity of their choice.
By winning the award, Heyward will receive a $250,000 donation for the charity of his choice.
For the Buckeyes, Heyward was a dominant force, being named First Team All-Big Ten in 2010, and helping to guide his team to the BCS National Championship game in 2007.
He had 163 tackles 37.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his college career.
He was then picked in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Steelers, where he would make six Pro Bowls from 2017-2022, be named First Team All-Pro three separate times in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and earn Second Team All-Pro Honors in 2020.