Cameron Heyward: From Buckeye to Steeler Legend

Cameron Phillip Heyward, born on May 6, 1989, is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A stalwart on the Steelers' defensive line, Heyward has carved out a remarkable career marked by consistent performance, leadership, and community involvement. Before his successful NFL tenure, Heyward honed his skills at Ohio State University, where he established himself as a dominant force in college football.

Early Years

Before his collegiate success, Heyward attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he played for the Peachtree Ridge Lions high school football team. In 2006, he was recognized as the Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year. That same year, the team achieved a significant milestone by tying for the Georgia Class 5A State Championship. As a senior, he amassed over 100 tackles and 16 sacks, showcasing his potential early on.

College Career at Ohio State

Heyward's college career at Ohio State University laid the foundation for his future NFL success. Over four years, he played 52 college football games, demonstrating consistent growth and impact.

2007: Freshman All-American

As a true freshman in 2007, Heyward immediately made his presence felt. He was named a freshman All-American by Sporting News, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. During that season, he recorded 30 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 2 passes broken up. His early performance signaled a promising future.

2008: Sophomore Season

In his sophomore year in 2008, Heyward continued to contribute to the Buckeyes' defense, recording 36 tackles and three sacks. While his numbers slightly increased, he continued to develop his skills and understanding of the game.

2009: Junior Year and Rose Bowl Victory

As a junior in 2009, Heyward's impact became more pronounced. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes emerged victorious with a 26-17 win against Oregon. He, along with fellow players like Thaddeus Gibson and Kurt Coleman, helped the Buckeyes defense hold Oregon to their lowest total yards of the season.

2010: Senior Season

During his senior season, Heyward amassed 48 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. Notably, he returned an interception for a career-high 80 yards against Miami. By the end of his college career, Heyward had accumulated 163 total tackles and 15.5 sacks, leaving a lasting legacy at Ohio State.

Pre-Draft Analysis

Coming out of Ohio State, Heyward was projected to be selected in the first round by the majority of analysts and scouts. Sports Illustrated ranked him the 16th best prospect and the fifth best defensive end prior to the NFL Combine. Although he attended the NFL Combine, he was only able to perform the vertical after coming off elbow surgery in January. After the combine, he was projected to be selected in the first or second rounds because of the large number of defensive end prospects that were graded highly.

NFL Career with the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Heyward in the first round (31st overall) of the 2011 NFL draft.

2011: Rookie Season

He entered training camp competing with veterans Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, and Ziggy Hood for a starting defensive end position. Going into the regular season, he was named the backup strong side defensive end behind Brett Kiesel. After wearing jersey number 95 during the pre-season of his rookie campaign, Heyward switched to No. 97 after Jason Worilds opted to switch to No. He made his professional regular season debut in the Steelers season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens and made one solo tackle as the Ravens routed the Steelers 35-7. On October 9, 2011, Heyward recorded his first career sack on Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, while also making two solo tackles in a 38-17 victory. During a Week 16 matchup against the St. He finished the season with 11 combined tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass deflection, and he blocked a field goal in 16 games.

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2012 Season

He entered training camp competing with Ziggy Hood for the vacant weakside defensive end position. He played in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opener against the Broncos and made three combined tackles in the 31-19 loss. The next week, Heyward recorded a solo tackle and made his first sack of the season on Mark Sanchez as the Steelers routed the New York Jets 27-10. On December 30, 2012, he collected a season-high four combined tackles and was credited with half a sack on Thad Lewis during a 24-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.

2013 Season

Heyward began the regular season as the backup strongside defensive end behind Brett Keisel. He appeared in the Pittsburgh Steeler's season-opener and made one solo tackle in a 16-9 loss to the Titans. On September 22, 2013, he earned his first career start in place of weakside defensive end Ziggy Hood and finished the 40-23 loss to the Chicago Bears with one solo tackle. Heyward earned his second start during a Week 6 matchup against the Jets and recorded two combined tackles in a 19-6 victory. He remained the starting weakside defensive end for the rest of the season. On November 3, 2013, he made five combined tackles and earned his first sack of the season on Tom Brady, as the New England Patriots routed the Steelers 55-31. In Week 14, he made a season-high ten combined tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection during a 34-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

2014 Season

Throughout training camp he competed with Brett Keisel, Stephon Tuitt, and Cam Thomas to be a starting defensive end. He started the Steelers season-opener against the Browns and made four combined tackles and sacked Brian Hoyer in a 30-27 victory. The following game, he recorded a season-high seven combined tackles as the Ravens defeated the Steelers 26-6. On October 3, 2014, Heyward was fined $22,050 by the NFL for using abusive language towards an official during Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On December 21, 2014, Heyward recorded four combined tackles and was credited 1.5 sacks on Alex Smith during a 20-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The following game, he made a season-high six solo tackles, an assisted tackle, and sacked Andy Dalton in a 27-17 win. He finished the season with 53 combined tackles (33 solo), a career-high 7.5 sacks, and four pass deflections in 16 games and 16 starts. The Steelers finished first in the AFC North with an 11-5 record in 2014.

2015 Season

Heyward began the season as the de facto left defensive end, along with Stephon Tuitt. He started the season-opener against the Patriots and recorded four combined tackles in a 28-21 loss. The next week, he made five solo tackles and sacked Colin Kaepernick as the Steelers routed the San Francisco 49ers 43-18. Heyward finished the season with 54 combined tackles (39 solo), seven sacks, and two pass deflections in 16 games and 16 starts. The Pittsburgh Steelers finished second in the AFC North with a 10-6 record. On January 9, 2016, he made a solo tackle and sacked A. J. McCarron during an 18-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The following game, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost 23-16 to the eventual Super Bowl 50 Champions, the Broncos.

2016 Season

Heyward started at defensive end in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opener against the Washington Redskins and collected two combined tackles in a 38-16 victory. On October 2, 2016, Heyward recorded a season-high seven solo tackles, two pass deflections, and sacked Alex Smith a career-high three times, as the Pittsburgh Steelers routed the Chiefs 43-14. During Week 6, he missed the first game of his career with a hamstring injury. His streak ended at 85 consecutive games and 49 consecutive starts. On November 13, 2016, Heyward suffered a torn pectoral muscle during the Steelers loss to the Dallas Cowboys where he recorded two solo tackles.

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2017 Season

In Week 4, Heyward recorded two sacks and a fumble recovery in a 26-9 win over the Baltimore Ravens, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. On November 27, 2017, Heyward recorded a season-high six combined tackles and had two sacks on quarterback Brett Hundley in the Steelers' 31-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. His performance earned him his second AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors of the season.

Recent Seasons

Heyward with T. J. The team finished first in the AFC North and hosted the Cleveland Browns at home in the AFC Wildcard game. In Week 1, Heyward recorded his first sack of the season on Josh Allen during the Steelers' 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Heyward and the Steelers achieved another post-season appearance facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wildcard round. During the game, Heyward recorded four tackles and a forced fumble that T. J. Heyward began his season making four tackles (two assisted, two solo) in Week 1's 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He made his first sack of the season on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert as the Steelers won 20-10. On November 10, Heyward achieved his first game of the season recording multiple sacks.

Contract Details and Career Earnings

Cameron Heyward’s long-standing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers has made him one of the highest earners in the NFL. Cameron Heyward‘s net worth is approximately $35 million, following his astounding 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he has been the defensive pillar and a captain for more than a decade. The foundation of his net worth was built through his extensive time with the Steelers, with his 15-year contract totalling more than $146 million. His multiple contract extensions with the Steelers have been the key factor in his growing net worth. Nonetheless, the defensive tackle’s football earnings haven’t been the only contributor to his net worth. The multi-time Pro Bowler has had numerous brand deals over the years alongside various investment ventures. Cameron Heyward is currently on a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he is set to get paid $29 million, including $16 million guaranteed. Under the current contract, his average salary is $14.5 million, whereas the contract has a signing bonus of $14.7 million. Signed , it’s valid till the end of the season. In , Heyward’s cap hit was $12,606,250, while at the end of this season, the cap hit is going to be $22,852,520. In the current contract, the dead cap is $23,252,520 this season; it will fall to $4,900,000 next season. Throughout Heyward’s current contract, the base salary is set to remain intact. In , his base salary was $1,300,000, but his signing proration was $8,950,000 with a $2,356,250 restructured proration, taking the cap hit to $12,606, 250. At a base salary of $1,300,000 , his signing proration is $4,900,000. His deal for the ongoing season features a whopping $13,450,000 roster bonus, $3,200,000 in likely incentives, and a $2,520 workout bonus. The upcoming season will see him earning the base salary of $1,300,000 alongside a $4,900,000 signing bonus. Likewise, his roster bonus is slated to be $12,950,000, accounting for a cap hit of $19,150,000. The veteran defensive tackle’s total career earnings are approximately $146,335,255. Upon completion of his current contract, it could reach over $160 million-a number highlighting his legacy with the Steelers. The defensive tackle attended Ohio State for college football, but nearly all his earnings stem from a 15-year-long professional football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the first round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, landing a $6.70 million rookie contract for four years. Following the completion of the contract, Heyward signed another six-year contract extension worth $59.25 million. The Steelers offered him the second extension in 2020, valued at $65 million, making him the NFL’s priciest defensive star under 30. Heyward secured another $29 million extension , which was his latest deal with the Steelers.

Brand Endorsements

With longevity and class, Heyward has built a personal brand and public image. As a result, he is associated with several well-known brands. Before the NFL season, the defensive tackle had an annual partnership with Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. Additionally, as an elite Steelers player, he has a sponsorship with Nike, whose jerseys are provided by the sports brand. He also endorsed brands such as Vital Proteins, Split Nutrition, GetGo, Onnit, and For Bare Feet. The DT’s podcast, “Not Just Football with Cam Hayward,” is digitally marketed by Vox Media’s SB Nation Network.

Personal Life

Heyward was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His late father Craig "Ironhead" Heyward was a former NFL fullback. His father died from cancer, and Cameron was fined by the NFL for uniform violations when he displayed his father's nickname in an eye black message during the NFL's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. During Heyward's freshman year at Ohio State University, he began dating Allie Schwarzwalder and proposed to her on New Year's Eve 2012 at Savoy. Heyward has three brothers. His younger brother, Corey Heyward, played college basketball for Georgia Tech. His youngest brother Connor played as a tight end for Michigan State.

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