For the second week in a row, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward honored his late father, who died from cancer at the age of 39, by wearing his nickname — Ironhead — on his eye black. For the second week in a row, Heyward faces a fine from the NFL for doing so.
Last week, the league fined Heyward $5,787 for painting the word “Iron” under one eye and “Head” under the other. Since he did it again on Sunday in the game against the Arizona Cardinals, the 26-year-old now faces a steeper fine of $11,567.
Got fined for honoring my Dad who bravely fought cancer on my eye black. #Nevergiveup #CancerSucks pic.twitter.com/RTx988ijG9
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) October 14, 2015
In October, the NFL partners with the American Cancer Society, unveiling pink merchandise, uniforms, and paint schemes in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. These awareness initiatives have often been criticized since only eight percent of the proceeds from pink NFL merchandise sales goes to breast cancer research.
However, the NFL has made it clear that its breast cancer awareness campaign doesn’t go past October 31st; Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams, who lost his mother and four aunts to breast cancer, had requested to wear pink on his uniform for the remainder of the year in honor of his mother, but was denied permission by the league.
“I do it to honor somebody, DeAngelo does it to honor somebody, it shouldn’t be taken to offense by anybody,” Heyward told reporters last week. “We’re not trying to gain publicity by it. We grew up in this game loving it. To be a part of it is a blessing, but I want to honor [my dad].”
When asked this week whether he intended to continue with the tribute despite the fines, Heyward said, “That’s the goal.”
Heyward’s father, Craig Heyward, was a Pro Bowl fullback who played in the NFL for 11 years. He was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1998, and died in 2006, when Cam was only 17 years old.
Craig had been nicknamed “Ironhead” since high school, where it is reported that one player said his head must be “made of iron” after being on the receiving end of a tackle.
Since Heyward announced his fine last week, he has received support from fans, with his nephew and news anchors alike sporting “Ironhead” eye black.
I got my nephew supporting me! This awesome #ironhead pic.twitter.com/OUBaq7HP4b
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) October 17, 2015
The Crew on @PNC Steelers Late Show come to support the star of the show @ CamHeyward. #EyeBlack show airs Sat 11:35 pic.twitter.com/ECs2q3KRWA
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) October 15, 2015
The NFL rulebook is strict when it comes to the uniforms, appearances, and messaging on the field. Section 4, Article 8 reads: “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience… players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
NFL officials told Williams last week that “there are no exceptions to the uniform policy.”