Current NFL players have once again voted on their Top 100 Players of 2025 in the league, and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is the first Steelers player to make the NFL Top 100 list this year.
Heyward, the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, came in at No. 83 on the list. He was ranked No. 98 in 2024 and No. 45 in 2023.
Last year Heyward started all 17 games, recording 71 tackles, including 35 solo stops. He had eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for a loss, and 11 passes defensed. He was named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl Games for the seventh time in his career.
Heyward has been a mainstay for the Steelers defense, a captain for 10 consecutive seasons. He has appeared in 211 career games, with 176 starts, and has started every game he has played in since the 2014 season. His 211 games played put him in fourth place on the Steelers all-time list.
Heyward is in second place in team history with 88.5 career sacks, behind only linebacker T.J. Watt, who has 108 career sacks.
For his career, Heyward has 718 tackles, including 439 solo stops, 130 tackles for a loss, 195 quarterback hits, 58 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Take a look at the best photos of Steelers DT Cameron Heyward during the 2025 OTAs and Minicamp
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Wednesday June 4, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Wednesday June 4, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Wednesday May 28, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (James Dotter/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Yahya Black (78) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Wednesday June 4, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 27, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Thursday June 12, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin participate in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 27, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 27, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Wednesday May 28, 2025 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (James Dotter/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Wednesday June 11, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Wednesday June 11, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Wednesday June 11, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale (96), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Jacob Slade (79), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Logan Lee (91), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (92) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99)practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Thursday June 12, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
About the NFL Top 100:
The NFL and X launched NFL Top 100, a digitally reimagined version of the NFL Films countdown franchise as a first-of-its-kind X Originals series.
Produced by NFL Films, NFL Top 100 will feature three-to-five-minute episodes highlighting the league's top 100 players as voted on exclusively by current NFL players. Episodes will debut weekdays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET on X and NFL+ running through Friday, Aug. 29.
Each weekday will feature two new player reveals, with 10 total players ranked per week over 10 weeks leading up to the start of the 2025 NFL season. The top 10 will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
This marks the 15th consecutive year that current NFL players have voted to determine the top 100. The 2025 edition embraces a short-form, digital-first format designed for today's fans — blending NFL Films' signature storytelling with exclusive footage, commentary and a social-native viewing experience.
NFL Top 100 on X will be as raw as the action on the field, featuring highlights, exclusive soundbites and commentary from fellow stars across the league. Integrating new footage with NFL Films' exclusive vault of historic intellectual property, the miniseries is a perfect fit for X's audience.
