PITTSBURGH —While answering a reporter's question on Thursday morning, Cam Heyward realized his typically booming voice was being stifled by the rap music obnoxiously pouring through the Pittsburgh Steelers ' locker room speakers.
"Hey, Burt!" Heyward said , calling out to the team's senior director of communications, Burt Lauten, across the way. "Burt! Turn that down, please!"
A moment later, Lil Durk's "Movement" trailed off and Heyward disapprovingly shook his head before continuing his brief weekly responsibility as the defense's spokesperson.
Minutes earlier, before fielding reporters' questions, Heyward bent down to correct to his untangled shoelaces before offering some wisdom.
"Kids, tie your shoes," the four-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro said.
The old-timer-like displays were fitting, being that Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals will mark Heyward's 221st regular-season appearance for the Steelers, which will give him sole possession of second place on the team's all-time leaderboard. He'll pass Mike Webster and will sit behind only longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (249).
Last week, Heyward, 36, made sure to remind everybody he's not even the NFL's oldest active defensive lineman — that distinction belongs to the Arizona Cardinals ' Calais Campbell , who's 39. Heyward joked about how long in the tooth Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is, as well.
The denial of his aging could explain why Heyward, a 15th-year pro, essentially waved the question away when asked if passing Webster means anything to him.
"No," Heyward said before laughing. "I'm trying to get above that. Game 24 of the 2025 season is (what) I'm more concerned with."
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 16, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Heyward, of course, was referring to wanting to win a Super Bowl, which would actually be the Steelers' 20th or 21st outing of the campaign. Fourth-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was much more willing to discuss Heyward's longevity.
"I think it's unbelievable. He's a unicorn, to be as elderly as he is, to play as well as he's playing," Austin said. "I think it's really a testament to him and his work ethic and the things that he does to stay prepared and engaged. That's the one thing, like, when you're around him, he's almost like a 24-year-old new guy in the building.
"It's really a testament to him and what he's put into this game that's he's able to reach those heights and play as long as he has."
According to Pro Football Reference, Heyward ranks first in franchise lore in tackles for loss (136), second in sacks (90.0) and quarterback hits (204) and 10th in solo tackles (455).
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Elderly Unicorn: Cam Heyward Soon to Climb on Steelers' Longevity Leaderboard
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