Cameron Heyward—Can He Retire Today and Get A Bust in Canton?

By John Turney 

Social media was abuzz last weekend after Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive lineman Cameron Heyward mused about ending his career with the Cleveland Browns, telling The Athletic's Mark Kaboly that "I am not trying to think about all that right now."

Neither, it turns out, should the Steelers.

One day later, in fact, Koboly tried to put out the fire by saying Heyward was joking about Cleveland; that there was a conversation about former Steelers' great Franco Harris finishing his career in Seattle, with Heyward asked what he might do if he had to continue playing outside of Pittsburgh. 

"The goal," Heyward said later, clarifying his remarks, "is to be a Steeler for the rest of my career."

"Whew!" must have been the reaction to Steeler Nation.

But it begs the question: What if 2024 were Heyward's last NFL season? What would that mean for his legacy? More to the point, if that did happen, has he done enough in his career to merit Hall-of-Fame consideration? 

Let's take a look.

He's certainly played long enough. This season will be his 14th, and he should surpass 200 games played and, possibly, 170 games started.

No problem there. 

However, he never played on a championship team. Unlike previous Pittsburgh teams, these Steelers failed to reach a Super Bowl during Heyward's tenure. In the decade prior to his arrival, they advanced to three, winning two.

That could be an issue ... except he never played on a losing team and has been part of eight playoff teams. In other words, he's never been stuck on a perennial loser. Moreover, he's been noticed by those who vote for All-Pro teams and Pro Bowls.

He's a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler.

That's the good news. That bad? He wasn't voted to the 2010s' all-decade team and won't make the 2020s' squad. But there's a catch: Heyward is someone who would benefit from a mid-all-decade team, if there were such a thing -- one that spanned from 2015-2024. He'd almost certainly be chosen to it.

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.

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.

Both were four-time Pro Bowlers, while Long, Selmon, Hampton and Seymour were honored on all-decade teams. In reality, the only player in Heyward's genre whom he doesn't match in terms of All-Pro seasons is former Houston Texans' star J.J. Watt. He was a five-time All-Pro. Oddly, Heyward went to one more Pro Bowl.

Now, before I go further, let me explain something: I didn't compare Heyward to other defensive interior linemen who were 4-3 defensive tackles -- guys like John Randle, Warren Sapp or even his contemporary, Aaron Donald -- the so-called "three-techniques," or pure pass rushers.

But it's important to note that, as Heyward's career progressed, the Steelers used less and less of their 3-4 base defense -- which was around 35-40 percent during his All-Pro run as a defensive end -- and more nickel. That means he's been a three-technique tackle a lot (among other things), though he plays the position differently than the quick, slashing interior rushers.

He does it with so much power that 49ers' defensive tackle Javon Hargrave called him "the strongest defensive lineman in the league" -- someone who's able to hold blockers at bay, he said, with what coaches call a "long arm stab."

"He has a left long arm that is better than anyone else in the league," Browns' All-Pro guard Joe Bitonio told NFL Films. "Once he gets it locked in there, it's pretty tough to get it off."

Critics will contend that he hasn't accumulated an abundance of sacks during his career, and that's fair. He has 80-1/2, with three double-digit seasons. But that's not his role in the Steelers' defense. In fact, when Heyward signed a six-year $60-million contract in 2015, he made that clear.

"If I can become a double-digit sack guy," he said, "or just take up a lot of attention so other guys get pressure, that's fine. The front seven has to dominate, and we're all a part of it."

Heyward's "part" is to create interior pressure, making sure opposing quarterbacks have no place to step forward when edge rushers like teammate T.J.Watt swoop in from the outside. And he's been effective. But there's more to the former first-round pick's game than rushing the passer; more like another, less glamorized, aspect of the game that Heyward values.

Playing the run.

"The first key to this defense," he said of the Steelers, "is stopping the run. You can look at any game. When we didn't stop the run, we got beat." 

It is hard to beat someone with Heyward's strength and determination. He stacks blockers with his leverage and power to close gaps. Then, if the play is away from him, he chases down runners with hustle rarely seen from a 6-5,  295-pound lineman.

"His motor never stops", said three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Melvin Ingram. "He just keeps going, keeps going, keeps going. Cam's motor is crazy."

That motor led to 333 tackles of opposing rushers since 2019, and if that seems like a lot it's because it is. Only two other NFL linemen have been involved in more stops during that time, and neither is yet 30. Heyward turned 34 last year. 

"Talk about an ageless wonder," said former Buffalo center Mitch Morse, now with Jacksonville. "From play one to the last play, he's chasing the ball down. If you don't anchor on a bull rush, he has more than you can handle."

So there you have it: Glowing opinions of his peers to add to Cam Heyward's case.

No, he probably won't end his career with 100 sacks, and he may not make another Pro Bowl or gain the Super Bowl ring he covets. But there's no denying that Heyward passes the eye test. You can't help but notice him when the Steelers' defense is on the field. 

Not only that, but his teammates insist he's been the heart and soul of the Steelers' defense the last decade. He set the tone, the standard and the conscience for the unit. In short, he was the absolute leader.

That should count for a lot.

So what does all this mean for his Hall-of-Fame chances? Like others asked to do similar things -- namely, play both the pass and the run -- Heyward should be seen through the same lens as Hall-of-Famers Howie Long, Richard Seymour, Dan Hampton and Joe Klecko. They were versatile, almost positionless, defensive linemen who didn't produce a slew of sacks, dominated the middle and were enshrined.

If Cam Heyward is viewed that way, then we have the answer to our original question. If he were to retire now, then, yes, he's done enough to warrant a Gold Jacket.