OLB Alex Highsmith given 'Chief Award’ as Steeler most cooperative with media

It wasn’t lost on Alex Highsmith that he was at a podium accepting an award recognizing his interactions with media just six days after he had arguably his most honest and poignant public comments of the Pittsburgh Steelers season.

After the Steelers lost their third consecutive game, Highsmith, on Christmas Day, repeatedly implored teammates for improving their “want-to” in an effort to turn things around.

“I just think it’s important (to be well spoken) during those times because you just really show who you are during those times of adversity,” Highsmith said Tuesday. “And I know we’ve had a lot of adversity the last couple weeks, so we have to continue to stick together and continue to work harder. So that’s the message I have been saying in recent interviews.

“It’s important to do that both when times are good and times are bad.”

Highsmith was named the 37th winner of “The Chief” Award, which is presented annually to a member of the Steelers organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media. The award was established in 1988 in honor of Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., who embodied those principles.

Highsmith, after accepting the award Tuesday, took time to credit his parents, Sam and Pam, for how they raised him and for instilling the values that helped shape an all-around professional athlete.

Highsmith joins four Pro Football Hall of Famers — and a few others who might join them in Canton some day, such as teammate and three-time winner Cameron Heyward — as past recipients of The Chief Award.

“It’s just an honor to be included in with some of the great names who have won this award in the past,” Highsmith said. “I know how much this award means to the Rooney family, so it means a lot to me, and it means a lot to the organization as a whole. I’m grateful to help (media do its) job.”