Steelers' Cameron Heyward Is A "Big Reason" For Surprising Top Nod For Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers' pride and joy is obviously their defense, as they enter 2025 with the highest paid unit in the NFL yet again. However, that highly touted squad was the primary reason for the team's five-game losing streak to end the 2024 season. That epic collapse forced the coaching staff to make massive changes and finally start evolving to catch up with the rest of the league in the offseason to try and make sure nothing like that ever happens again. If it works or not is to be determined. 

Despite that, the usually harsh Pro Football Focus (PFF) uncharacteristically had some high praise for the Steelers and captain Cameron Heyward in their list of "10 late-career NFL veterans still playing at a high level."

"Heyward is yet another player on this list who is a lock for the Hall of Fame, trailing only Chris Jones in PFF overall grade (90.1) among interior defenders last season," PFF wrote. "At 35 years old, he finished the year with a career-high 85.9 PFF pass-rush grade. The five-time All-Pro is a big reason why the Steelers top PFF's list of the best defensive lines in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. His presence will be especially valuable for Derrick Harmon, the Steelers’ first-round pick in this year’s draft."

Sure enough, Heyward and TJ Watt headlined the defensive line unit that was ranked first in the NFL by PFF. The 35-year-old is still impressing everyone with his play at this stage in his career. He previously said that he has two more years left in him, but if he can continue to defy Father Time like has lately, he might have to reconsider that. 

Nobody expected Heyward to have that kind of dominant campaign in 2024, including the Steelers themselves. After coming off of an injury-filled 2023 season, he held in during the offseason programs, demanding a new contract. He and the team negotiated all throughout training camp, and he even practiced during that time. They finally got a deal done, and Heyward has rewarded the front office by having a career revival.

In 2024, Heyward was named as a First-Team All-Pro for the fourth time, and on any All-Pro team for the fifth time. He received a few votes for other awards as well. He ended the year with eight sacks, 71 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, and 11 pass deflections, with the last stat leading all non-secondary players, and tying him with players like Jalen Ramsey and Xavier McKinney. 

Steelers Have Great Mentor For First-Round Pick

As PFF also mentioned, the future Hall of Famer will be around to mentor the Steelers' top pick in 2025, Derrick Harmon. The rookie has already been named as a starter on the line, so he will get plenty of reps with the 15th-year veteran on the first-team defense. There isn't much that Heyward has not seen at the NFL level, so he will have plenty of wisdom for the new kid in town. 

When Heyward eventually retires, Harmon will be expected to take over as the leader of the unit. Maybe the veteran can teach him how to be a leader and a team captain as well. If Harmon can play great and lead like his mentor currently does, then the Steelers would have gotten an absolute steal in the 2025 draft, just like they did when they selected Heyward 31st overall in 2011. 

Having Heyward and Harmon working inside with Watt and Alex Highsmith running the outside will be a nightmare scenario for any offensive line. Age is clearly not a factor in this, as all five linemen on any team will have a lot to deal with. The 35-year-old has no plans on slowing down anytime soon, and he will try to keep defeating Father Time while pushing on to win a Super Bowl and cement his legacy as a Hall-of-Famer.

What do you think about PFF showing love to Heyward and the Steelers' defensive line? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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