The Steelers signed defensive tackle Cameron Heyward to a new two-year contract.
Heyward, who is entering his 16th season with the Steelers, has been a mainstay for the defense, a captain for 11 consecutive seasons. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection, in addition to a second-team selection twice. He and Hall of Famer Joe Greene are the only interior defensive linemen in Steelers history to be voted first-team AP All-Pro four times.
He has appeared in 228 career games, with 193 starts, and has started every game he has played in since the 2014 season. His 228 games put him in second place on the Steelers all-time list.
Heyward is also second on the Steelers all-time sack list with 92 in his career, only behind teammate T.J. Watt who has 115 sacks. He has 796 career tackles, 477 solo stops, 139 tackles for a loss, 64 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in his career.
Heyward was an Associated Press second-team All-Pro and an All-AFC selection by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2025.
He finished the regular season fourth in total tackles with 78, including 38 solo stops. He had nine tackles for a loss, six passes defensed, three and a half sacks and a forced fumble. Heyward was also named first-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus (PFF). According to PFF, Heyward is the only interior defender to 'earn a 90.0-plus PFF grade this season and the only player at the position to post PFF grades above 80.0 as both a pass-rusher and a run defender.'
Heyward's 'youthful' dominance was on display most recently against the Baltimore Ravens in the battle for the AFC North in Week 18 of the 2025 season. On a 41-yard run by the Ravens' Derrick Henry, it was Heyward who made his way downfield for the tackle. And while he got dinged up on the play, he came right back in.
"That just shows his resiliency and his want-to and will to come out here and work at his age," said fellow defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. "I think he's still got some more in the tank. He's a heck of a player.
"That's why you see me (chasing players downfield) now. Seeing him, even in practice, it starts in practice with him turning and running. You see it on film. The young guys see it on film. You just see people start to change."
Heyward was named Associated Press All-Pro for the fifth time in his career in 2024, his fourth time on the first-team list. He had one of his most consistent seasons in 2024, remaining healthy and starting all 17 games.
Heyward recorded 71 tackles, 35 solo stops, eight sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, 19 quarterback hits and 11 passes defensed in 2024.
Heyward ranked first among defensive tackles in the NFL in passes defensed (11), tied for second in tackles for a loss (12) and quarterback hits (19) and third in tackles (70) and sacks (8), the only defensive tackle in the NFL to rank in the top three in each category.
In 2023, Heyward appeared in 11 games while dealing with a groin injury, recording 33 tackles, 25 of them solo stops, six tackles for a loss, two sacks and one pass defense.
What Heyward brings on the field is matched by what he does off the field. He was selected as the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, one of the most prestigious awards in the entire league.
He joined a list of former Steelers who won the award, which includes Hall of Famers Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann and Jerome Bettis.
CAMERON HEYWARD SINGLE-GAME HIGHS:
Total Tackles 10 vs. Miami Dolphins, Dec 08, 2013
9 vs. Seattle Seahawks, Oct 17, 2021
9 vs. Buffalo Bills, Dec 15, 2019
8 vs. Buffalo Bills, Nov 30, 2025
...5 more at 8.
Solo Tackles 7 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Oct 02, 2016
7 vs. Baltimore Ravens, Oct 01, 2015
...1 more at 7.
Sacks 3.0 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Oct 02, 2016
2.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sep 30, 2019
2.0 vs. Cleveland Browns, Dec 08, 2024
2.0 at Washington Commanders, Nov 10, 2024
...9 more at 2.0.
Passes Defensed 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Jan 04, 2025
2 vs. Indianapolis Colts, Nov 02, 2025
2 at Cleveland Browns, Nov 21, 2024
...8 more at 2.
Forced Fumbles 1 at New England Patriots, Sep 21, 2025
1 at Buffalo Bills, Oct 09, 2022
...7 more at 1.
Fumble Recoveries 1 at Cincinnati Bengals, Sep 11, 2022
1 at Buffalo Bills, Sep 12, 2021
...5 more at 1.
Tackles For Loss 3 vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Dec 24, 2022
3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Oct 02, 2016
2 vs. Miami Dolphins, Dec 15, 2025
...27 more at 2.
Interceptions 1 vs. Chicago Bears, Nov 08, 2021
1 at New York Giants, Sep 14, 2020
Longest Opp Fumble Return 8 at Cleveland Browns, Nov 24, 2013
1 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sep 18, 2016
