"We Kick A Lot Of A*s": Cam Heyward Refuses To Let The Steelers’ Run Defense Fail After These Comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering an entirely new era now that Mike McCarthy is at the helm. That change is being felt on both sides of the football, including a defense that is undergoing a major transition. Typically, when a defensive-minded head coach leaves, it would be fair to expect some level of regression, especially with the departure of longtime leader Mike Tomlin and former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. However, that does not appear to be the case in Pittsburgh.

A major reason for that is the foundation Tomlin built during his 19 seasons leading the Steelers. Throughout his tenure, Pittsburgh consistently invested heavily in defensive talent, giving the unit plenty of star power and playmakers. But over the final decade of Tomlin’s time in Pittsburgh, cracks began to show in the defensive approach. The schemes and tactics being used started to become exposed, especially against teams that could consistently attack their weaknesses.

While the Steelers’ raw defensive yardage numbers often appeared respectable on paper, advanced metrics revealed deeper issues. The biggest concern was the team’s inability to consistently win against the run, with poor run-stop efficiency exposing fundamental flaws within the defense. That is a major reason why there is so much excitement surrounding new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and what he can bring to the unit.

During a live appearance on The Pat McAfee Show from training camp on Monday, Cam Heyward sat alongside TJ Watt and revealed something about stopping the run that is sure to fire up Steeler Nation. The veteran defensive lineman made it clear that the new-look Steelers defense understands exactly what must improve if they want to become one of the NFL’s elite units.

"It's got to start there [stopping the run]," Heyward said while speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. "I think you look at our last couple of years; if we don't stop the run, we give it up."

Heyward made it clear that the Steelers’ defensive identity will be built around one simple objective. That is the simple fact that is: stopping the run. 

"If we want to be the number one defense and go far into the playoffs, we know it starts with stopping the run," Heyward said. "We have just been preaching that day in and day out. We've got big guys like Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, Joseph-Day, myself included. We gotta stop the run. It's not just our D-line, but they have to stop the run, our corners have to be part of it. It's a collective effort, and when we do that, we kick a lot of a**."

The veteran defensive lineman understands that if Pittsburgh wants to become the NFL’s best defense and make a deep playoff run, it has to start with controlling the line of scrimmage.

Steelers Fully Believe Their Defense Will Finally Live Up To The Hype

Heyward mentioned players such as Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, and Sebastian Joseph-Day as key pieces in improving the Steelers’ run defense. However, he also emphasized that stopping the run is not just the responsibility of the defensive line. It will require a complete team effort, with every level of the defense playing a role.

With a fresh defensive scheme and renewed optimism surrounding Graham’s leadership, the Steelers believe they can take a major step forward and live up to the expectations that come with their highly paid defensive roster. That improvement starts with stopping the run, and Heyward believes that if Pittsburgh can accomplish that, they will be able to dominate plenty of NFL teams throughout the 2026 season.

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