Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward has been on a tear this season. Along with leading all DTs with 55 tackles, Heyward has eight sacks, 10 tackles for loss and eight pass defended. The last player who recorded 8+ sacks, 10+ TFL and 8+ pass defenses through their first 13 games of a season was J.J. Watt in 2014.
Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, which is why it’s pretty head-scratching that Heyward is not being considered for DPOY.
Heyward is 35, but he’s playing like he’s 25. The 14-year veteran looks like he has plenty of left in the tank.
“He is such a treat,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. “He is playing lights out. His play has been top tier. He is playing as good as he has ever played. He’s an ageless wonder. But I also just really appreciate that he is Pittsburgh born and raised.
“We drafted this guy in 2011, and just to watch him grow as a player and a human, it’s been cool to be a part of that. And it really just makes my day easy, to be quite honest with you. That dude understands what we’re doing here, our approach to business, our culture, our values. He embodies all of those things.”
With two sacks in a 27-14 home win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday Heyward pushed his career sack total to 88.5.
There’s a common theme in what the 14th-year veteran is striving for, all the way down to his goal in that statistical category.
“More,” Heyward said, smiling behind the podium microphone.
With the pair takedowns of Jameis Winston, Heyward passed up Justin Smith and Leonard Little on the NFL’s official list of sack leaders, according to Pro Football Reference. Against Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia next week, Heyward will be chasing down Ken Harvey (89), Tamba Hali and Bryant Young (89.5), and maybe even Trent Cole (90.5) on that leaderboard.
“I think, for me, there’s more to improve on, more to keep going after,” said Heyward, who finished the day with five tackles and two tackles for loss, as well. “There’s a hunger for me that I’m not satisfied with what I’ve done in the past, and I expect a lot more of myself.”
Heyward is a three-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler. He’s recorded 88.5 career sacks, which is second on the franchise’s all-time list. Having that many sacks as a defensive tackle speaks volumes. Only T.J. Watt has more sacks than him in Steelers history. Heyward also was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2023.
NFL historian John Turney thinks Heyward has done enough to warrant a Gold Jacket. Turney believes Heyward’s accomplishments match up with other Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive linemen.
“As it is, his three All-Pros are similar to others who played his position — a 3-4 defensive end in a base defense and a defensive tackle in passing downs. Howie Long did that. So did Richard Seymour. Both were All-Pro three times, with Long going to eight Pro Bowls and Seymour seven,” Turney wrote in June.
“Lee Roy Selmon, a pure 3-4 end who didn’t ‘sink’ to defensive tackle, was also a three-time All-Pro. Two guys who played multiple positions — Dan Hampton and Joe Klecko — could also be considered for comparison, with Hampton a four-time All-Pro and Klecko chosen twice.”
It’s not a must, but a Super Bowl title would certainly increase Heyward’s Hall of Fame odds. He might’ve already accomplished enough to get in, but a Super Bowl title would make him a shoo-in to Canton. Reaching 100 career sacks also might solidify his case.
Heyward said this offseason that he wants to play for at least three more years. With how he’s playing now, he might push five more years and play into his 40s.
Brenden Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
