He’s nonetheless taking part in at an elite degree, as proof by his first-team All-Professional accolade in 2024. However the 2025 season might be the final in a potential Corridor of Fame profession for Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
That’s the prediction CBS Sports activities’ Tyler Sullivan is making. In a chunk for CBSSports.com, Sullivan highlighted 10 veteran stars that might be of their remaining seasons within the NFL, and made predictions on retirement selections.
Whereas Aaron Rodgers has said the 2025 season is seemingly his remaining 12 months within the NFL, Heyward has not talked about retirement in any respect. And why ought to he? He’s nonetheless a dominant piece.
However Sullivan believes Heyward will view 2025 as his remaining shot at successful a Tremendous Bowl earlier than driving off in to the sundown.
“Heyward is an ageless surprise, incomes first-team All-Professional honors final season together with the seventh Professional Bowl nod of his profession. He’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down, regardless of the 36-year-old getting into his fifteenth season within the league,” Sullivan writes concerning Heyward. “…Regardless of being underneath contract by 2026, nonetheless, there are not any ensures in Heyward’s deal past this coming season.
“It’s potential Heyward might have a look at this one-season stint with Rodgers as his final kick on the can as nicely earlier than retiring with one other QB reset on the horizon for Pittsburgh.”
Heyward is an ageless surprise. He’s doing issues few — if any — defensive linemen his age have executed on the NFL degree.
Final season, Heyward received again to being a pressure within the trenches. After battling by an injury-filled 2023 season that sapped a few of his mobility and energy, Heyward had an offseason surgical procedure and returned to kind, dominating from begin to end on the 12 months.
He completed Yr 14 with 71 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and a career-high 11 passes defensed. These numbers earned him a Professional Bowl nod, a first-team All-Professional choice, a ninth-place end in Comeback Participant of the Yr voting, and a Thirteenth-place end in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting.
Not unhealthy for a 35-year-old inside defensive linemen.
Whereas he turned 36 years outdated in Might, Heyward hasn’t proven indicators of slowing down. He’s as pushed as ever and stays a dominant piece. If he stays wholesome once more this season and continues to play at a excessive degree, it’s exhausting to examine Heyward strolling away from the sport, even when he’ll have loads of media alternatives when he’s executed.
The Steelers may be viewing 2025 as a serious kick on the can to try to win a championship with Rodgers underneath middle. That perception was strengthened with the additions of Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith through commerce on Monday. However Heyward has given no indication he’s even desirous about strolling away, largely as a result of he’s lacking that one key factor on his resume.
If the Steelers shock the world this season and win a Tremendous Bowl, possibly Heyward does experience off into the sundown. However these probabilities appear slim, which ought to have Heyward again for 2026 to not less than end out his present contract. And who is aware of? Possibly he will get one other deal from the Steelers, too.
