The Pittsburgh Steelers pride themselves on tradition, stability, and winning. Over the last decade, winning in the playoffs has become a rare occurrence and in their last six appearances, they have only managed to win a total of three games in the postseason. There is plenty of blame to go around and Steeler fans have many different opinions as to why the Steelers have not managed to live up to "The Standard."
Head Coach Mike Tomlin during the Steelers' matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. | Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers defensive lineman and team captain, Cam Heyward has been with the Steelers since 2011 and has been a part of both the ups and downs of the last decade. Heyward was drafted with the 31st pick in the 1st-round out of Ohio State. Throughout his 11-year career in Pittsburgh, Heyward has played in 179 games, while recording 73 sacks, 369 solo tackles, and 8 forced fumbles. His consistent presence in the opponent's backfield has made him one of the top pass rushers in the entire NFL.
Heyward is also a 5-time Pro Bowler and a 3-time All-Pro. His All-Pro season in 2017 was by far Heyward's best, where he recorded 12 sacks, 45 combined tackles, 16 of which were tackles for loss. At the end of his career, he will have a significant case for wearing a gold jacket and making it into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Head Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers walk off the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
He has also seen a lot of success off the field. He has been nominated again this season for the Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year Award for the third time in his career. The award goes to one NFL player each season who strives to make an impact in the community:
"There are a lot of guys in the league who give back," said Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin. "I think where Cam stands out is his consistency. Year in and year out, he's been a consistent leader and role model on the field and in the community for the young players on this team. It's been special having a guy like that in our locker room for over a decade now."
(Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Heyward is involved with many different charities and causes throughout the community, including his own charities called The Heyward House, Cam's Kindness Week, and Craig's Closet. One event fans look forward to in the summer is his celebrity softball game, where he invites current and past Steelers players, along with opposing team's players and media personnel to compete in a softball game and raise money for The Heyward House.
The Steelers Owe It To Heyward To Send Him To A Super Bowl Caliber Team This Off-Season
Unfortunately he is still missing one accolade that all professional football players strive for, a Super Bowl. The Lombardi Trophy is the last achievement Heyward needs before calling his career quits and it seems as if it is the least likely for him to achieve, at least in Pittsburgh. I believe the Steelers should do Heyward a favor this off-season and send him to a team that is a current Super Bowl contender.
One thing is for certain and that is father time is undefeated. Now in his age 33 season, he only has a few years left to be a productive force on the defensive line and fans have started to see a slight decline in his game this fall. The Steelers are in the perfect spot to get a solid return on Heyward if they did indeed trade him away.
If all goes to plan and in a best case scenario, the Steelers are about three years away from being a true AFC and Super Bowl contender. I believe that the time frame may be a little too late for Heyward to get his ring. The Steelers also need a lot of things to go right in three years to have a true chance, including hitting on their first three picks in next year's NFL Draft.
The Steelers could use the draft capital and Heyward deserves his Super Bowl ring, so in my opinion, it is a win-win for both parties involved.
What do you think? Should the Steelers trade Cam Heyward away, or should he retire in black and gold? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or on my Twitter @collinlschmitt.
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