The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the franchises in the NFL that is truly relying on some aging players. A lot of the veterans around the league take a backseat during the last few years of their respective careers, but that is not the case for two of the leaders on Pittsburgh's current roster. Aaron Rodgers is leading the offense at quarterback as the oldest active player in the NFL, and he is preparing to start his second season for the Black and Gold. On defense, Cam Heyward has hit some sort of second wind as he continues to stay elite, despite his age, which is a rarity for his position on the defensive line.
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Cameron Heyward takes the field for the Steelers during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
It took Heyward a little while to get going during his NFL career. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round back in 2011, but he didn't start a game until the 2013 season. He didn't see any true individual success until the 2017 season when he made his first Pro Bowl and was named a First-Team All-Pro. He achieved one of those two things in every season all the way through the 2022 season, but then he had a rough year filled with injuries in 2023. Fans thought it might be the end of his time, but he has bounced back and has been an All-Pro in each of the last two seasons. It is truly impressive what he has been able to do as of late.
Due to his down year in 2023, fans are always a little worried about him going into the new year. However, he has proven he can still be elite time and time again. Beat writer Mark Kaboly has been keeping an eye on Heyward at practice, and he noted that the veteran defender still looks elite in 2026 in an article posted to social media.
"Cam Heyward pulled out his version of Reggie White’s ‘hump move’ at practice on Tuesday and made 300-pounder Brock Hoffman look like a child," Kaboly wrote. "If Heyward lost a step, I’d like to know where. I’ve seen enough out of him in camp that I don’t care if we don’t see him on the field until Sept. 13."
Heyward is now 37 years old, and he is one of the oldest players in the league at his position. He was able to make Brock Hoffman look silly at practice, which is a good sign. Hoffman is over 300 pounds and just 27 years old, yet Heyward is still finding ways to dominate the youth on the field.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Cam Heyward gets ready to make a play during Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns.
Heyward will be looking to make his third consecutive All-Pro team in 2026, which is something he should be able to do as long as he stays healthy. His health is the main concern with his game, although he has remained healthy over the last two seasons. He is often disrespected due to his age, and that was shown by ESPN's recent ranking of the top 10 defensive tackles in the league.
Steelers Rely On Cam Heyward In More Ways Than One
Despite being 37 years old, Heyward is relied upon to start and play a ton of meaningful snaps. He has shown he can still do that. The franchise needs him to produce on the field, and he has been. Another thing he is relied on for is mentoring the younger defensive linemen on the roster. The Steelers have invested in that area a lot over the years with guys like Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black, and Heyward's presence only helps them grow as players.
Heyward is under contract for two more seasons, but it will be interesting to see how long he ends up playing.
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