Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward was omitted as a finalist for the 2024 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and the AP’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
The finalists for NFL DPOY are Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Baun, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II. While the finalists for NFL CPOY are Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Heyward had a banner season in 2024. Along with leading all DTs with 71 tackles, Heyward has eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 11 pass defended. The last player who recorded 8+ sacks, 10+ TFL and 8+ pass defenses through their first 13 games of a season was J.J. Watt in 2014.
J.J. Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, which is why it’s pretty head-scratching that Heyward is not being considered for DPOY.
It’s also puzzling that he’s not a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year. Heyward, at age 35, bounced back from an injury-riddled year in 2023.
In Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, he tore the groin muscle off the bone, requiring surgery. At some point, while trying to compensate for it, he injured his other groin, too. Heyward should have missed 12 weeks after his surgery, but powered back far quicker than that.
Heyward had groin surgery in the offseason, and many were skeptical that he would return to his former self. After signing a three-year, $45 million contract extension in September, he proved the doubters wrong by earning a Pro Bowl selection and being named first-team All-Pro.
Heyward is 35, but he’s playing like he’s 25. The 14-year veteran looks like he has plenty of left in the tank.
“He is such a treat,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on the Pat McAfee Show in early December. “He is playing lights out. His play has been top tier. He is playing as good as he has ever played. He’s an ageless wonder. But I also just really appreciate that he is Pittsburgh born and raised.
“We drafted this guy in 2011, and just to watch him grow as a player and a human, it’s been cool to be a part of that. And it really just makes my day easy, to be quite honest with you. That dude understands what we’re doing here, our approach to business, our culture, our values. He embodies all of those things.”
It’s the fourth time that Heyward’s been named first-team All-Pro by the AP, first since 2021. He also was named to the Pro Bowl for the seventh time in his career.
Hyeward has recorded 88.5 career sacks, which is second on the franchise’s all-time list. Having that many sacks as a defensive tackle speaks volumes....
