Cam Heyward Will Make Steelers History vs. Giants
All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward will play in his 202nd game with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. That’s the most by any defensive player in franchise history. That’s a remarkable achievement, especially considering all of the great defensive players that have donned the Black and Gold.
Only five other players in franchise history have reached the 200 game milestone — Mel Blount (200), Donnie Shell (201), Hines Ward (217), Mike Webster (220) and Ben Roethlisberger (249). Heyward will surpass Blount and Shell on the all-time list on Monday night when the Steelers take on the New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium.
Heyward, 35, signed a two-year contract extension with the Steelers prior to the start of the season, so he’ll be in Pittsburgh through at least the 2026 season.
Heyward has said that he wants to play for two more seasons after this one, so the contract could very well run through the end of his playing career. That’s the outcome that both sides seemed to be looking for.
“The goal is to be a Steeler for the rest of my career,” Heyward said in June.
Heyward has dominated through seven games this season. He has shown no signs of slowing down. If he stays healthy and is active for every game through the 2026 season, he’ll have 245 career games under his belt, behind only Roethlisberger on the all-time list for most games played as a Steeler. At the very least, he should surpass Webster’s 220 career games.
Heyward is a three-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler. He’s recorded 82.5 career sacks, which is second on the franchise’s all-time list. Having that many sacks as a defensive tackle speaks volumes. Only T.J. Watt has more sacks than him in Steelers history. Heyward also was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2023.
NFL historian John Turney thinks Heyward has done enough to warrant a Gold Jacket. Turney believes Heyward’s accomplishments match up with other Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive linemen.
“As it is, his three All-Pros are similar to others who played his position — a 3-4 defensive end in a base defense and a defensive tackle in passing downs. Howie Long did that. So did Richard Seymour. Both were All-Pro three times, with Long going to eight Pro Bowls and Seymour seven,” Turney wrote in June.
“Lee Roy Selmon, a pure 3-4 end who didn’t ‘sink’ to defensive tackle, was also a three-time All-Pro. Two guys who played multiple positions — Dan Hampton and Joe Klecko — could also be considered for comparison, with Hampton a four-time All-Pro and Klecko chosen twice.”
It’s not a must, but a Super Bowl title would certainly increase Heyward’s Hall of Fame odds. He might’ve already accomplished enough to get in, but a Super Bowl title would make him a shoo-in to Canton. Reaching 100 career sacks also might solidify his case.
Blount, Shell and Webster are all in the Hall of Fame. Roethlisberger most likely will be enshrined in 2027 and Ward is a borderline Hall of Famer. Ward could eventually get in, but there’s a logjam at wide receiver. All six players in the Steelers 200-club very well could have a Gold Jacket someday, though.
Heyward continues to rack up accolades. The one thing missing is a Super Bowl ring.
Read This Next
