The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Cam Heyward have been linked for more than a decade, dating back to the NFL team’s first-round selection of the former Ohio State star in 2011.
It is uncommon for an NFL player to have a career spanning more than ten years, but it is even more unusual to have spent 13 seasons with the same team. Heyward recently completed his 13th season, and despite recent injury difficulties, the Steelers big man continues to demonstrate his ability to play at a high level when healthy, and he does not appear to be planning on retiring from his career with the Steelers anytime soon.
Heyward eventually received his first start in 2013, and he took full advantage of the chance. He finished the season with 59 total tackles (35 solo), seven pass deflections, five sacks, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and 13 starts. He finished second on the team (first among defensive lineman) with five sacks and led the team in quarterback pressures with 31. Pro Football Focus ranked him 19th among all qualified defensive ends in 2013.
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up Cam Heyward’s fifth-year option in 2014, paying him $6.96 million in 2015.
Many athletes leave a franchise after failing to meet expectations for a new deal, but Heyward thrived.
He concluded the season with 53 combined tackles (33 solo), a career-high 7.5 sacks, and four pass deflections in 16 games (16 starts). Heyward appeared in 64 consecutive games over his first four seasons. In 2014, Pro Football Focus gave him the sixth highest overall grade among all qualified defensive ends.
In 2014, the Steelers finished first in the AFC North, going 11-5. Heyward had two combined tackles in the AFC Wildcard game against the Ravens on January 3, 2015, which ended 30-17.
On July 16, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Heyward to a six-year, $59.25 million contract extension that includes a $15 million guarantee and a $12 million signing bonus. His season was cut short in November due to a torn pectoral muscle, but he still had his best football ahead of him.
Cam Heyward’s greatest season with the Pittsburgh Steelers since joining the team came in 2017. He concluded the season with 45 combined tackles (30 solo), a career-high 12 sacks, and three pass deflections in 15 games and 15 starts, earning First-Team All-Pro recognition for the first time in his career.
On September 6, 2020, Heyward extended his deal with the Steelers for four years and $65.6 million.
From 2018 to 2022, Heyward established himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen. In four of the five seasons, he had at least eight sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three or more pass deflections. From 2017 to 2022, he was rated one of the top 100 players in the NFL six times in a row.
Heyward has been a vocal leader in the locker room for 13 NFL seasons, and his 80.5 career sacks are the most by a Steelers defensive lineman since 1982 and the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle. In his nine seasons as a defensive captain, he has 116 tackles for loss and 177 quarterback hits, which rank third among active defensive lineman. Heyward has six Pro Bowl choices, three AP First Team All-Pros, three PFF First Team All-Pro crowns, and two Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL honors. Heyward is the second Steelers interior defensive lineman to get multiple AP First-Team All-Pro honors.
In 2023, he suffered a groin injury in September and was placed on injured reserve. He ended up only starting in 11 games recording 33 tackles, two sacks and a pass deflection.
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