The Sports Xchange

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward has been fined by the NFL for wearing eye-black tape reading “Iron Head” in honor of his late father’s fight against cancer.

Heyward revealed in a tweet Wednesday that he was fined after honoring his father — former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who died at the age of 39 in 2006 after a seven-year battle with a recurring brain tumor.

“Got fined for honoring my Dad who bravely fought cancer on my eye black. #Nevergiveup #CancerSucks,” Heyward wrote on Twitter.

Heyward was fined $5,787 for wearing the eye-black tribute and plans to appeal the fine, a source told ESPN.

Players are permitted to use eye-black to reduce glare from sunlight or bright stadium lights, but the NFL’s uniform policy is against “personal messages.”

Craig Heyward played parts of 11 seasons in the NFL from 1988 to 1998.

Heyward is the second Steeler this week to take issue with the league’s refusal to allow players to honor family members.

Running back DeAngelo Williams wanted to wear pink in his uniform all year to honor his mother, Sandra Hill, who died of breast cancer last year at the age of 53.

The NFL denied Williams’ request, even though the league has designated October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to honor the fight against cancer when teams can wear pink on their uniforms.