Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward had an incredible season at age 35, returning from an injury plagued 2023 to earn his fourth first-team All-Pro selection and his seventh Pro Bowl selection.
Heyward can rush the passer, and his eighth sacks in 2024 were tied for the fifth-mist in his 14-year NFL career, but his bread and butter is stopping the run.
As a team, the Steelers were one of the best at shutting down opposing running games in 2024. The Steelers allowed just 1,678 yards on the ground, the sixth-fewest in the NFL and tied for the fourth-best yards per carry against at 4.1.
As for Heyward’s part of the whole, a stat researched by Steelers Radio Network host Matt Williamson showed exactly how valuable Heyward was to Pittsburgh run-stopping effort.
According to Williamson, when Heyward was on the field, the Steelers averaged 3.7 yards per carry, which would have been the second-best in the NFL this season. Without Heyward, they were at 5.1 yards per carry — the second-worst in the NFL.
With Heyward on the field, Pittsburgh has faced 303 rush attempts, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. That would be second best in the league. On the 109 carries without Heyward on the field, #Steelers allow 5.1 yards per carry, which would be 31st.
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) February 8, 2025
That also shines the need for the Steelers to make significant upgrades to their defensive line position. The Steelers haven’t used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman since taking Heyward back in 2011, but this could be the year with a strong defensive line class and head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl all taking close interest in the position at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama last week.
Five of the team’s seven defensive linemen from 2024 are under contract to return: Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, Dean Lowry and DeMarvin Leal. Montravius Adams ad Isaiahh Loudermilk are set to become free agents if not re-signed before March 12.
