Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — With his appearance in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward has now played the second-most games in Steelers history (221).
Heyward’s 221st regular-season appearance for the Steelers gives him sole possession of second place on the team’s all-time leaderboard. He passes Hall of Fame center Mike Webster and will sit behind only longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (249).
Last week, Heyward, 36, made sure to remind everybody he’s not even the NFL’s oldest active defensive lineman — that distinction belongs to the Arizona Cardinals’ Calais Campbell, who’s 39. Heyward joked about how long in the tooth Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is, as well.
The denial of his aging could explain why Heyward, a 15th-year pro, essentially waved the question away when asked if passing Webster means anything to him.
“No,” Heyward said before laughing. “I’m trying to get above that. Game 24 of the 2025 season is (what) I’m more concerned with.”
Fourth-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin raved about Heyward’s longevity during his media availability on Thursday.
“I think it’s unbelievable. He’s a unicorn, to be as elderly as he is, to play as well as he’s playing,” Austin said. “I think it’s really a testament to him and his work ethic and the things that he does to stay prepared and engaged. That’s the one thing, like, when you’re around him, he’s almost like a 24-year-old new guy in the building.
“It’s really a testament to him and what he’s put into this game that’s he’s able to reach those heights and play as long as he has.”
According to Pro Football Reference, Heyward ranks first in franchise lore in tackles for loss (136), second in sacks (90.0) and quarterback hits (204) and 10th in solo tackles (455).
Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Cam Heyward Accomplishes Historic Feat vs. Bengals
