In what could be his final NFL season, Cam Heyward will need to buck Father Time in an even more dramatic way to reach an exclusive NFL club. Heyward enters his 16th season with 92 career sacks, putting him eight shy of triple digits.

For a power rushing defensive lineman with just 3.5 sacks a year ago, joining that 100 club will be difficult. But few expected Heyward to get this far while still playing at a high level. There’s plenty of reason to think he’s capable of tallying eight sacks and getting there.

Just two years ago, Heyward finished with eight of them. Doing it again would land him squarely on 100. His sack production fell off in 2025, but he still proved capable of rushing the passer. A few chances were “stolen” by teammates like T.J. Watt and Derrick Harmon.

Heyward didn’t lose juice throughout the season. In fact, two of his 3.5 sacks came over the final four games. One against Miami and another the following week against Detroit, showing off his patented bull rush to power through the line and collapse the pocket on both.

Likewise, four of his nine QB hits came after Week 14. Heyward finished the season better than he started. Carrying that “momentum” into 2026 is a cliche and doesn’t truly exist, but it showed Heyward’s game wasn’t slowing down, even after the wear and tear of a long season.

New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham might help. A front seven-minded coach, he differs from the previous staff that had a background steeped in defensive back play. That’s not to say Mike Tomlin or Teryl Austin couldn’t scheme up a pass rush, but Graham might offer a new perspective of emphasis on how to get to the quarterback. All of which will benefit Heyward.

Reaching 100 sacks would make Heyward one of just two Steelers in history to do so. T.J. Watt, of course, being the other and franchise leader. In NFL history, only three players with a listed weight of Heyward’s 295 pounds or above have reached triple-digit sacks: Kevin Carter, Julius Peppers and Calais Campbell. Heyward has a chance to join a sparse club.

If Heyward wants to a follow a blueprint, all he must do is mirror New Orleans Saints DE Cam Jordan, his 2011 draft mate. Though Jordan is a bit more of an EDGE rusher than Heyward’s rugged interior position, both are big guys who win with power and savvy. Last season, Jordan racked up 10.5 sacks in his age-36 season. Heyward just needs eight.

Ed “Too Tall” Jones registered 10 sacks at age 36 in 1987. The legendary Alan Page posted nine at the same age in 1981. Both did so in a 16-game season. Campbell didn’t get to eight but had 6.5 at age 39 in 2025. The history is light, but there’s precedent. Heyward has broken through a conventional career with an engine still running strong, well past what would’ve been reasonably expected or assumed.

Eight. The number sandwiched between the 9 and 7 on his jersey. That’s the number to aim for. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible.