Cameron Heyward

DT

#97

Experience: 16 years

Height: 6-5

Age: 37

Weight: 295 lbs

College: Ohio State

2025 SEASON

Solo
36
SCK
3.5
FF
1
INT
--

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Recent Games

WK	OPP	RESULT	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	SCK	PDEF	FF
1	@Jets	W 34 - 32	3	0	3	2	0	1	0
2	Seahawks	L 17 - 31	2	3	5	2	0	1	0
3	@Patriots	W 21 - 14	3	3	6	3	1	1	1
4	Vikings	W 24 - 21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Browns	W 23 - 9	1	1	2	1	0	0	0
7	@Bengals	L 31 - 33	2	1	3	2	0.5	0	0
8	Packers	L 25 - 35	4	3	7	4	0	0	0
9	Colts	W 27 - 20	0	4	4	0	0	2	0
10	@Chargers	L 10 - 25	1	5	6	1	0	1	0
11	Bengals	W 34 - 12	0	5	5	0	0	0	0
12	@Bears	L 28 - 31	2	1	3	2	0	0	0
13	Bills	L 7 - 26	5	3	8	4	0	0	0
14	@Ravens	W 27 - 22	2	3	5	2	0	0	0
15	Dolphins	W 28 - 15	3	2	5	3	1	0	0
16	@Lions	W 29 - 24	2	2	4	2	1	0	0
17	@Browns	L 6 - 13	3	2	5	3	0	0	0
18	Ravens	W 26 - 24	5	2	7	5	0	0	0

Career Stats

Defense Career

SEASON	TEAM	G	GS	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	SCK	PDEF	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TDS	FF	OPP FR
2011	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	0	10	1	11	8	1	1						1
2012	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	0	13	7	20	11	1.5	0						0
2013	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	13	35	24	59	27	5	7						0	1
2014	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	16	33	20	53	27	7.5	4						0
2015	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	16	39	15	54	35	7	2						1
2016	Pittsburgh Steelers	7	7	17	4	21	17	3	4						0	1
2017	Pittsburgh Steelers	15	15	30	15	45	26	12	3						2	1
2018	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	16	29	22	51	24	8	3						1	1
2019	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	16	51	32	83	39	9	6						1	1
2020	Pittsburgh Steelers	15	15	30	24	54	25	4	3	1	0	0	0	0	0
2021	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	17	53	36	89	39	10	9	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
2022	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	17	39	35	74	31	10.5	4						1	1
2023	Pittsburgh Steelers	11	11	25	8	33	18	2	1						0
2024	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	17	35	36	71	29	8	11						0
2025	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	17	38	40	78	36	3.5	6						1
TOTAL		228	193	477	319	796	392	92	64	2	0	0	0	0	9	7

Biography

PRO CAREER

11-time team captain (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Seven-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Four-time Associated Press First-Team All-Pro (2017, 2019, 2021, 2024)
Two-time Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro (2020, 2025)
Named the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence
Six-time Steelers' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Three-time recipient of the Pro Football Writers' "The Chief Award" (2014, 2019 and 2021), which was established in honor of the Steelers' founder, Arthur J. Rooney, Sr., and is presented annually to the Steeler that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media
Joined Joe Greene (four times) as the only interior defensive linemen (DT-NT) in franchise history to be voted Associated Press First-Team All-Pro more than once
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the 10th-most among defensive tackles in NFL history
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the most among defensive tackles in franchise history (Joe Greene)
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the fourth-most among all active NFL players
His seven Pro Bowls rank tied for the second-most among active defensive linemen
Has played in 228 games (193 starts) over his 15-year NFL career (Pittsburgh 2011-25)
Has registered 796 tackles (477 solo), 204 quarterback hits, 139 tackles for loss, 92.0 sacks, 64 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions
His 92.0 career sacks are the most by a Steelers' defensive lineman since 1982
His 92.0 career sacks are the second-most by a Steeler since 1982
His 92.0 career sacks are the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 92.0 career sacks are tied for the seventh-most by a defensive tackle in League history
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 8.0 or more sacks in at least six seasons (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024) and 10.0 or more sacks in at least three seasons (2017, 2021, 2022)
Has registered 16 multi-sack games in his NFL regular-season career, which ranks tied for fifth in franchise history
The Steelers are 15-0-1 when he has a multi-sack game and 12-0-1 when he has at least 2.0 sacks
Has recorded 1.0+ sacks in 72 career games, which is the second-most by a Steeler since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
His 72 career games with 1.0+ sacks is the eighth-most among active players since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
Has recorded 2.0+ sacks in 13 career games, which is tied for the fourth-most by a Steeler since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
His 139 tackles for loss are the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 139 tackles for loss are the eighth-most by an active NFL player
His 139 tackles for loss are the third-most by a DT since 1994
Has registered at least two TFLs in 30 career games, which is the third-most among defensive tackles since the start of the 2000 season
His 796 tackles are the third-most by a defensive tackle since 1994
His 796 tackles are second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 203 QB hits are the sixth-most by an active NFL defensive lineman and 13rd-most by a defensive lineman since 2000
Has played in 228 regular-season games for the Steelers, which is the second-most in franchise history and most among defensive players
His 228 regular-season games played ranks fourth in NFL history among defensive tackles
Has started 193 regular-season games for the Steelers, which is the third-most in franchise history and most among defensive players
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 9.0+ sacks in at least five seasons
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 10.0+ sacks in at least three seasons
His three seasons of 10.0 or more sacks and seven seasons of 7.0 or more sacks are both tied for fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His four seasons of 9.0+ sacks are tied for the sixth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His six seasons of 8.0+ sacks are tied for the fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His eight seasons of 7.0+ sacks are the fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
Has registered at least two passes defensed in 11 career games, which is tied for the fifth-most among defensive lineman since the start of the 2000 season
His 11 career games with at least two passes defensed is the most among defensive tackles since the start of the 2000 season
His 64 passes defended are the second-most among active defensive tackles
His 64 passes defended are the third-most by a defensive tackle since 1994
Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2011 (at Baltimore)
Made NFL starting debut in Week 3 of 2013 (vs. Chicago)

PRO CAREER

11-time team captain (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Seven-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Four-time Associated Press First-Team All-Pro (2017, 2019, 2021, 2024)
Two-time Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro (2020, 2025)
Named the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence
Six-time Steelers' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Three-time recipient of the Pro Football Writers' "The Chief Award" (2014, 2019 and 2021), which was established in honor of the Steelers' founder, Arthur J. Rooney, Sr., and is presented annually to the Steeler that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media
Joined Joe Greene (four times) as the only interior defensive linemen (DT-NT) in franchise history to be voted Associated Press First-Team All-Pro more than once
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the 10th-most among defensive tackles in NFL history
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the most among defensive tackles in franchise history (Joe Greene)
His four AP First-Team All-Pros are tied for the fourth-most among all active NFL players
His seven Pro Bowls rank tied for the second-most among active defensive linemen
Has played in 228 games (193 starts) over his 15-year NFL career (Pittsburgh 2011-25)
Has registered 796 tackles (477 solo), 204 quarterback hits, 139 tackles for loss, 92.0 sacks, 64 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions
His 92.0 career sacks are the most by a Steelers' defensive lineman since 1982
His 92.0 career sacks are the second-most by a Steeler since 1982
His 92.0 career sacks are the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 92.0 career sacks are tied for the seventh-most by a defensive tackle in League history
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 8.0 or more sacks in at least six seasons (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024) and 10.0 or more sacks in at least three seasons (2017, 2021, 2022)
Has registered 16 multi-sack games in his NFL regular-season career, which ranks tied for fifth in franchise history
The Steelers are 15-0-1 when he has a multi-sack game and 12-0-1 when he has at least 2.0 sacks
Has recorded 1.0+ sacks in 72 career games, which is the second-most by a Steeler since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
His 72 career games with 1.0+ sacks is the eighth-most among active players since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
Has recorded 2.0+ sacks in 13 career games, which is tied for the fourth-most by a Steeler since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
His 139 tackles for loss are the second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 139 tackles for loss are the eighth-most by an active NFL player
His 139 tackles for loss are the third-most by a DT since 1994
Has registered at least two TFLs in 30 career games, which is the third-most among defensive tackles since the start of the 2000 season
His 796 tackles are the third-most by a defensive tackle since 1994
His 796 tackles are second-most by an active NFL defensive tackle
His 203 QB hits are the sixth-most by an active NFL defensive lineman and 13rd-most by a defensive lineman since 2000
Has played in 228 regular-season games for the Steelers, which is the second-most in franchise history and most among defensive players
His 228 regular-season games played ranks fourth in NFL history among defensive tackles
Has started 193 regular-season games for the Steelers, which is the third-most in franchise history and most among defensive players
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 9.0+ sacks in at least five seasons
Only defensive lineman in franchise history with 10.0+ sacks in at least three seasons
His three seasons of 10.0 or more sacks and seven seasons of 7.0 or more sacks are both tied for fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His four seasons of 9.0+ sacks are tied for the sixth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His six seasons of 8.0+ sacks are tied for the fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
His eight seasons of 7.0+ sacks are the fourth-most by a defensive tackle since 1982
Has registered at least two passes defensed in 11 career games, which is tied for the fifth-most among defensive lineman since the start of the 2000 season
His 11 career games with at least two passes defensed is the most among defensive tackles since the start of the 2000 season
His 64 passes defended are the second-most among active defensive tackles
His 64 passes defended are the third-most by a defensive tackle since 1994
Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2011 (at Baltimore)
Made NFL starting debut in Week 3 of 2013 (vs. Chicago)

2025 (STEELERS)

Played in and started all 17 regular-season games
Named a team captain for the 11th consecutive season
Registered 78 tackles (38 solo), nine quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and six passes defensed
Named Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro for the second time in his career

2024 (STEELERS)

Played in and started all 17 games in 2024
Named a team captain for the 10th consecutive season
Finished the season with 71 tackles (35 solo), 20 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and led the team with a career-high 11 passes defensed
His 11 passes defensed were the most by any front seven defender since 2021 (Emmanuel Ogbah, 12)
At age 35, recieved the second-highest PFF grade among all interior defenders in 2024 (90.1) trailing only Kansas City's Chris Jones
Recieved his fourth AP first-team All-Pro nod and seveth Pro Bowl nod, and finished 13th in voting for AP Defensive Player of the Year and ninth in voting for AP Comeback Player of the Year
By the end of the season, played in 211 career games, surpassing Donnie Shell (201) and Mel Blount (200) for the most games played amongst all defensive players in franchise history

2023 (STEELERS)

Played in and started 11 regular-season games
Named the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes a player's off-the-field
community service as well as his playing excellence
Missed Weeks 2-8 due to a groin injury
Registered 33 tackles (25 solo), 2.0 sacks, six tackles for loss, one pass defensed and three
quarterback hits
Steelers' run defense rebounded from a difficult start to the 2023 season when he returned to the
lineup in Week 9 vs. Tennessee Pittsburgh led the NFL in successful play rate on defensive rushes
(EPA based) after Week 9
The Steelers allowed five rushing TDs after Week 9, which was tied for the third-fewest in the
League over the span Pittsburgh allowed 0.50 rushing TDs/game after Week 9, which was the
third-fewest in the League over the span The Steelers allowed 46 first downs by rush after Week 9,
which was the second-fewest in the League over the span Pittsburgh allowed 4.60 first downs by
rush/game after Week 9, which was the fewest in the League over the span
The Steelers allowed a first down on just 19.0% of its opponents rushes after Week 9, which was the
fewest in the League over the span Pittsburgh allowed just 22 runs of 10 yards or more after Week
9, which was tied for the fifth-fewest in the League over the span
The Steelers allowed a run of 10 yards or more on just 9.1% of its opponents rushes after Week 9,
which was the sixth-fewest in the League over the span

2022 (STEELERS)

Started all 17 regular-season games
Registered 74 tackles (39 solo), 10.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, one forced
fumble and one fumble recovery Tied his career high in quarterback hits (23) set in 2019
Ranked first on the team in QB hits and tackles for loss and second on the team in sacks Named a
defensive captain for the eighth consecutive season
Named the Steelers' 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes a player's
off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence
Became the only defensive tackle in the NFL with 10.0 or more sacks in each of the last two seasons
and the 10th defensive tackle in NFL history since 1982 to have 10.0 or more sacks in consecutive
seasons
Registered three multi-sack games to mark 14 multi-sack games in his career
Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 16 vs. Las Vegas (seven
total tackles, four solo tackles, 2.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, two QB hits and one pass
defensed)
Also received the NFL's Way to Play Award following Week 16, which recognizes NFL players who
exemplify proper technique to make impactful plays and awards them a $5,000 equipment grant to be
given to a local youth or high school football program
Recorded eight tackles (three solo), 2.0 sacks, four QB hits, two tackles for loss and one pass
defensed in the Week 18 victory over Cleveland

2021 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive captain for the seventh consecutive time
Surpassed Joey Porter for the fifth-most sacks in team history (60.5) in Week 8 at Cleveland
Leads the team with seven passes defensed in 2021
Recorded his second career interception in Week 9 vs Chicago when he picked off Justin Fields
Recorded the 11th multi-sack game of his career in Week 10 vs Detroit
Recorded his 10th sack of the season in Week 18 at Baltimore, securing his second career (had 12.0 in 2017) double-digit sack season
One of just 13 players in league history to have at least 10 sacks and nine passes defended in a season

2020 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive captain for the seventh consecutive time
Started all 15 games he played in during the regular season and one playoff game
Recorded 54 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, seven tackles for a loss and three passes defended
Registered the first interception of his career in Week 1 at New York Giants (game 135 and start 100)
His interception halted a Giants' drive that opened at its own 9-yard line and marched 87 yards on 19 plays, taking New York down to the Steelers' 4-yard line

2019 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive captain for the fifth time (fifth consecutive)
Started all 16 games
Recorded 83 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for a loss and six passes defended
Ranked second on the team in quarterback hits, third in sacks and third in TFLs
Led all NFL defensive linemen in tackles
His 83 tackles were the most by a Steelers defensive lineman since Donald Evans had 84 in 1993
Registered seven or more tackles in three different games
His 22 quarterback hits were the second-most among all defensive tackles in the NFL
Recorded three or more quarterback hits in three separate games
Joined Aaron Donald as the only defensive tackles in the League with at least three QB hits in three or more games
His 9.0 sacks were the second-most among all defensive tackles in the NFL
His 11 TFLs were the fourth-most among all defensive tackles in the NFL

2018 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive team captain for the fourth straight season
Started all 16 regular season games for the third time in his career
Finished the season with 51 tackles (29 solo), 8.0 sacks (second on the team), 18 quarterback hits (second on the team), three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
Surpassed Aaron Smith for the second-most sacks by a Steelers defensive lineman and seventh-most sacks by a Steeler since sacks became an official statistic in 1982

2017 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive team captain for the third straight season
Started all 15 of the regular-season games he played in
Finished the season with a career-high 12.0 sacks, 45 tackles (30 solo), 22 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
Recorded four multi-sack performances, tying for most in the league
His 12.0 sacks tied for third-most among AFC defensive linemen and tied for sixth among all NFL defensive linemen in sacks
Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 4 performance at Baltimore (10/1)
Registered the third multi-sack game in his regular-season career and credited with a forced fumble and fumble recovery
Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 12 performance vs. Green Bay (11/26)
Registered the fifth game of his regular-season career with multiple sacks
Added six tackles (three solo), two tackles for losses and three quarterback hits
Surpassed Clark Haggans (32.0) for the 10th-most sacks by a Steeler since sacks became an official statistic in 1982
Established a single-game high for sacks in the first half of a game with 2.0 at Houston in Week 16
First Steelers defensive lineman to record at least 2.0 sacks in the first half of a game since Nov. 9, 2009 (Brett Keisel at Denver)
Surpassed Lawrence Timmons and Kevin Greene (35.5) for the eighth-most sacks by a Steeler since sacks became an official statistic in 1982

2016 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive team captain for the second straight season
Started seven games during the regular season
Inactive for two games due to a left hamstring injury (10/16 at Miami and 10/23 vs. New England)
Placed on the team's Reserve/Injured List due to a pectoral injury on November 19, and missed the remainder of the regular season and postseason
Recorded a single-game career-high 3.0 sacks
Fourth defensive end in franchise history to record at least 3.0 sacks in a single game and the first since Ray Seals in 1994 (11/6 at Houston) since sacks became an official statistic in 1982

2015 (STEELERS)

Named a defensive team captain for the first time in his career
Started all 16 regular-season games for the second consecutive season
Led the team with 7.0 sacks during the regular season
Has recorded at least 5.0 sacks in three straight seasons, becoming the second defensive end (Keith Willis) to record 5.0 sacks in three or more consecutive seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982
Started both postseason contests
Recorded a strip sack in the second quarter of the Wild Card victory Cincinnati, the first sack and forced fumble of his career in the postseason

2014 (STEELERS)

Started all 16 games during the regular season for the first time in his career
Set a then career-high with 7.5 sacks on the season
First defensive lineman to lead or tie for the team lead in sacks since Aaron Smith (2004)
Recorded 1.5 sacks, the first multi-sack game of his career and the first Steelers' defensive end to record a multi-sack game since Brett Keisel (12/23/12 vs. Cincinnati)
Started the lone postseason contest

2013 (STEELERS)

Played in all 16 games, making a then career-best 13 starts
Started his first career game 9/22 vs. Chicago
Recorded 5.0 sacks on the season, his first season with at least five quarterback takedowns
Recorded a career-high 12 tackles, and one sack, in Week 14 vs. Miami

2012 (STEELERS)

Saw action on the defensive line and on special teams in all 16 contests

2011 (STEELERS)

Saw action in all 16 regular-season games and the lone postseason contest in his rookie season
Totaled one sack, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in the regular season
Registered his first career sack and forced fumble in the fourth quarter in Week 5 vs. Tennessee

COLLEGE

Started 46-of-52 games at Ohio State (2007-10)
Recorded 163 tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks and six quarterback pressures
Recovered two fumbles, including one in the end zone for a touchdown
Had one interception, and he returned it 80 yards, which, at the time, ranked as the seventh longest return by a Buckeye in school history and the longest interception return by a defensive lineman
Forced two fumbles
Earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors and the Bill Willis Award, given by the OSU coaches to the team's Outstanding Defensive Player in 2010
Earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors and was the recipient of the Jack Stephenson Award, given by the coaching staff to the team's outstanding defensive lineman in 2009
Garnered Freshman All-American honors from Rivals.com, Scout.com and The Sporting News in 2007
Graduated with a degree in human development

PERSONAL

Attended Peachtree Ridge High School (Suwanee, Ga.)
Named 2006 Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, helping Peachtree Ridge capture the state championship as a senior
Totaled 88 tackles and 11.0 sacks during his senior campaign
Son of former NFL and University of Pittsburgh running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward and Charlotte Heyward Blackwell
Cameron's stepfather, Cory Blackwell, played football at Wisconsin
Married to Allie
Couple has one son, Callen Grey, and two daughters, Chloe and Caia
Started his foundation, "The Heyward House" in May 2015
Full name: Cameron Phillips Heyward

COMMUNITY

Named the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes a player's off-the-field
community service as well as his playing
excellence
Six-time Steelers Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Created his foundation, The Heyward House, in 2015, which supports Pittsburghers in need through a
variety of programs and partnerships Began the Rufus and Judy Jordan Literacy Program in 2020, and
as part of the program, built Little Free Libraries where he stocks books in under- served
communities
Built the Heyward Performance Center field house for his high school, Peachtree Ridge, in 2020
Created a birthday club, Cam's Birthday Bash, where every year on his birthday, he throws a
birthday party at Dave and Buster's complete with food, games and gifts, for children who often
don't get the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays
Through Craig's Closet, a program he named after his father, high school boys in the Pittsburgh
area with free dress clothes for interviews, internships, banquets, and more
Partners with Blessings in a Backpack to provide backpacks of food for students to take home over
the weekend
Began Voices of Hope Scholarship to provide brain tumor patients, or the family members of those
affected by a brain tumor diagnosis, the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education
Annually treats 200 families per year to Thanksgiving dinner through his food distribution with
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank
Has donated $150,000 over the last two seasons to the Steelers Social
Justice Fund
Serves on the Steelers Social Justice Committee and led one of the Social Justice Film Series
nights

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