The Pittsburgh Steelers are a franchise that is known for having legendary defenders. The organization has seemed to always prioritize defense, and that was the case in 2011 when it selected Cam Heyward in the first round of the NFL Draft. He has been one of the most successful players from that draft, and he is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career despite being 36 years old. He was an All-Pro in 2024, and he will look to replicate that success while passing on some knowledge to the younger defensive linemen on the roster.
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Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward stares down the crowd during a Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Cleveland Browns.
Heyward had a down year in 2023, and he then made it clear that he wanted a new contract heading into the 2024 season. He wound up getting a new deal from Pittsburgh, which a large portion of the fan base was against due to his age and recent performances. He shut all of those fans up with his play in 2024, as he probably should have been talked about more for the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year Award.
He played well throughout the year, and New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. spoke with Good Morning Football on Friday, and he was asked about his "Welcome To The NFL" moment.
"The one I remember is the Steelers." Tracy said. "It was a Monday night game, energy was crazy. The atmosphere was live. You got the crazy towels, the Terrible Towels, they're yelling, and it was Cam Heyward. So I'm doing my inside zone and I'm thinking the gap is there. If you're a running back, you understand that like the holes is there, until they're not. And Cam Heyward, he's two-gapping, so he's making it look like it's there."
Playing during a prime time game in Pittsburgh is probably surreal enough, but so is going up against a defender that has dominated the league for as long as Heyward has. Heyward has tons a of experience, and he was able to make it look like Tracy had some space to run, when it reality, he wanted the young running back to try to go through that gap all along.
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Giants' Tyrone Tracy Jr. runs with the football against the Seattle Seahawks during the 2024 season.
Heyward was always going to win the mental game against Tracy, but the real "Welcome To The League" moment comes when the two sides make contact. Tracy was brought to the ground quickly on the play, and recalls what it felt like getting hit by Heyward.
"And I try to like hit it in there and this man like hit me so hard." Tracy said. "He hit me so hard to where I hit my head on the ground and I just kind of had to lay there for a little bit. I needed a moment. I needed a moment just to catch my breath. I understand like, 'Yeah, I'm in the NFL. They're just a little different.'"
The Steelers squared up with the Giants in Week 8 of the 2024 season, so Tracy was still getting used to being a player in the NFL. It was only his fourth game of being the actual featured running back for the Giants, and he still managed to have a great game against Pittsburgh. He finished with 145 yards on 20 carries, and he scored a touchdown and caught two passes.
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Rookie Derrick Harmon working hard during 2025 mini camp.
Steelers' Cam Heyward Will Be Counted On As A Mentor In 2025
The Steelers invested in the defensive line throughout the 2025 NFL Draft as the organization selected Derrick Harmon in the first round of the event. Pittsburgh also grabbed Yahya Black in the fifth round, as the franchise needed to inject some youth into the defensive line. Harmon will probably play a lot right away, while Black will be more of a rotational piece. Heyward will still be relied upon to produce on the field, but hopefully he passes on some valuable knowledge to the two rookies.
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