Cam Heyward is aware that his playing career is nearing its end. As a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he understands this better than anyone.
Few players last 14 years like Heyward has, especially in such a physically tough position. Even fewer are chosen as team captains 10 times, as Heyward was on Monday.
He values this honor deeply, especially after an offseason filled with uncertainty that he usually avoids.
At 35 years old, Heyward faced a tough 2023 season with many injuries and admits he wasn’t at his best. He’s also in the final year of his contract, and while he wants to keep playing, there’s a chance his future might not be with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers generally don’t negotiate contracts during the season, so the clock is ticking for them to reach an agreement with the six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro before Sunday’s season opener in Atlanta.
Heyward avoided causing any extra drama during training camp by not holding out or engaging in a popular hold-in. He has often said he wants to end his career with the Steelers, but some factors are beyond his control.
If he stays, that’s great. If not, his goals for 2024 remain the same. The Steelers have not won a Super Bowl with him wearing his familiar No. 97, and he’s heard the critics who think he’s past his prime.
“I’ve had to take in and deal with the criticism,” Heyward said. “Everyone has their own opinion, but I want to prove them wrong, and I’m excited to play good football.”
If Pittsburgh wants to break their playoff win drought, which has lasted since 2016, Heyward needs to be as impactful as he was before he injured his groin in last year’s season opener against San Francisco. He had surgery and returned by midseason, but he wasn’t at his best.
Heyward ended the season with only two sacks, his lowest since he became a starter in 2013, and had trouble handling the double teams that are common for interior defensive linemen.
He believes he’s in a better position as 2024 starts and doesn’t need reminding of the one thing missing from his career.
“I kind of laugh when people say, ‘Oh, this guy deserves to win a Super Bowl or anything,’” he said. “You only deserve it if you earn it, and that’s always been my mindset. For the guys in the locker room, we have to earn it every week.”
Pittsburgh’s best chance this season is to have a strong defense with stars at every level—Heyward, linebacker T.J. Watt, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick—while supporting a revamped offense led by Russell Wilson, who, like Heyward, Watt, and special teams standout Miles Killebrew, was named a captain for the 2024 season.
Heyward played a major role in recruiting Wilson to the Steelers after two tough years in Denver. The two connected via FaceTime soon after Pittsburgh started showing interest, with Heyward explaining what it means to play for such a historic team.
“I think he understood the history and the challenge of being a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Heyward said. “You’re not just playing for the current team but for those who played before you. I think he really connected with that.”
Heyward has known since the Steelers picked him in the first round of the 2011 draft how special it is to play for his hometown team. Born in Pittsburgh, where his father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, was a college star, Heyward has embraced playing for the Steelers more than most players have since the new millennium. The thought of him playing for another team seems unusual.
However, it’s still a possibility for now. Heyward is trying to ignore the business aspects and focus on what he’s always done: leading both on the field and in the locker room.
Only three players in Steelers history have been chosen as a captain 10 times by their teammates: Ben Roethlisberger, former guard Sam Davis, and Heyward. Being in this group is something he deeply values.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to represent this team, but it’s not just about speaking at a podium,” he said. “It’s about listening to the guys and being an extension of them, trying to represent them as best as I can.”
Even if this could be his last chance to do so.
