PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s not the award the players necessarily clamor to win, but It goes to a specific person each year who works with reporters and in turn allows fans to understand more about the team. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is the winner of the Chief Award (named for team founder Art Rooney) for cooperation with the media.
“It’s just an honor to be included in a bunch of great names that have won it in the past,” Highsmith said. “I know how much this award means to the Rooney family. If it means a lot to them, it means a lot to me.”
He said he’s getting more comfortable doing interviews since he came here five years ago from Charlotte. Highsmith said his parents taught him to treat others the way you want to be treated. He said he’ll talk to the media after losses because you show who you are in times of adversity.
Highsmith battled through a pair of injuries this season playing in 10 of the 16 games with six sacks, nine tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, two passes defended and a forced fumble.
Previous winners include some of the best players in the last few decades as the award debuted in 1988- Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Alan Faneca, Rod Woodson, James Farrior, Casey Hampton, Ike Taylor, David DeCastro and Cam Heyward. The list also includes the inaugural winner, team president Dan Rooney.
Several of the players who won this award would extend their cooperation with the media to jobs in it
· Merril Hoge
· Tunch Ilkin
· Jerome Bettis
· Ryan Clark
· Ramon Foster
· Arthur Moats
· Joe Haden
· Patrick Peterson
“Ultimately, this platform I’ve been given is just to be a blessing to others,” Highsmith said. “I do like to get out in the community and serve in other ways. I’m forever grateful for all they taught me and become the man that I am.”