One of the core identities of the Pittsburgh Steelers has always been their dominant defense, especially the defensive front. Historically, that unit has been a major driver of the team’s success, from the days of the “Steel Curtain” in the 1970s to the present, with Alex Highsmith, T.J. Watt, and Cam Heyward leading the charge.
Naturally, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the franchise selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick, a move many saw as bringing in a potential successor to Heyward. However, the veteran doesn’t see it that way and shared his perspective on the rookie.
Cam Heyward Doesn’t View Derrick Harmon as Successor
Every NFL team has a defining characteristic, an identity that has shaped its history.
Some franchises are historically known for it: the quarterback tradition of the Green Bay Packers, the offensive masterminds of the San Francisco 49ers, and the dominant defense of the Steelers are just a few examples. Furthermore, these franchises make moves that reflect a clear effort to uphold those traditions.
Coming out of college, Harmon was described as a fierce pass rusher who uses his physical tools well and is expected to contribute right away as a 3-technique. Comparisons to Heyward started surfacing quickly. However, the Steelers veteran doesn’t want the rookie labeled as his successor. He wants Harmon to build his own legacy.
“I don’t think so,” Heyward responded to Chris Adamski on May 27 about similarities between their play styles. “He’s got a good body, moves well, plays with his hands, definitely gets on edge a lot more than a lot of the younger guys.”
Cameron Heyward on the prevailing thought that Derrick Harmon is the heir apparent as the next Cameron Heyward pic.twitter.com/zNNDjLUHbd
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 27, 2025
Heyward didn’t dive into the specific comparisons and instead focused on what he sees as positives in the rookie. The defense is a tightly connected group that relies on collective effort, and the less pressure a rookie has to face, the smoother their transition to the NFL will be.
Heyward is a 14-year veteran who has spent his entire NFL career with the Steelers, becoming a franchise icon. Remarkably durable with few injuries throughout his career, Heyward has been named first-team All-Pro four times and second-team once while earning seven Pro Bowl selections.
Comparing a rookie to Heyward sets a bar that few first-year players can realistically meet. His comments also serve as a way to shield Harmon from unrealistic expectations as he begins his NFL journey with the Steelers.
In 2024, the Steelers’ defense ranked 12th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. With the addition of Harmon, the expectation is that an already strong unit will become even better and more aggressive in attacking opposing quarterbacks. That might be Pittsburgh’s best shot at finding success in 2025, especially with the offense still being a major question mark.