Pittsburgh Steelers Veteran Cameron Hayward Kicks Off 15th Season

Cameron Hayward, the defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is entering his 15th season as training camp gets underway for 2025. Despite his lengthy career, he continues to perform at an impressive level.

Last year, Hayward played in all 17 games, achieving 11 pass breakups and eight sacks, which earned him his fourth first-team All-Pro selection. However, the 36-year-old seems to be feeling the emotional strain of training camp this year, particularly when it comes to saying goodbye to his family.

In a recent social media post, he shared, “The most difficult part of camping is saying goodbye to my kids.”

Fortunately for Hayward, he has spent his entire career with the Steelers, making him a consistent presence on the team. He was born in Pittsburgh, played high school football in Georgia, and then moved to Ohio for college before being drafted in the first round by the Steelers in 2011. He has donned the black and gold throughout his professional journey.

Hayward boasts impressive career stats, including 88.5 sacks, 718 tackles, and 199 quarterback hits across 211 games. This season, he will start alongside a line that features rookie Derrick Harmon and Keene Benton, with TJ Watt, Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, and Alex Highsmith likely stepping in as linebackers behind them.

Last season, the Steelers secured their fourth playoff appearance, finishing with a 10-7 record. While the offense had its challenges, the defense maintained strong performance, ranking 8th in points allowed and 12th in total yards.