At 36,Pittsburgh Steelers defensive star Cam Heyward is in the twilight of his career. Sure, GM Omar Khan believes the defensive tackle has years of football left in him.

But it simultaneously calls for a situation where a player needs to consider a second career. The dangers of failing to do that hardly need detailing. Not looking past the most obvious of choices would be to get a coaching job. Aaron Glenn, Dan Campbell, Jim Harbaugh, and several others have had such player-to-coach transitions. But does Heyward intend to take a similar path?

During a segment on his podcast ‘Not Just Football with Cam Heyward‘, that’s the exact question a fan put forth.

“That’s a lot of hours, bro. […] You know, I have a lot of respect [for coaches]. I do enjoy helping guys learn and helping guys, you know, chase after their dreams. So, you never know. But I want to make sure I spend some time with my family, too.”

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Co-host Hayden Walsh opined that coaching would require investing just as much time as playing, but Heyward was quick to correct him.

“More,” the DT added.

And when Walsh surmised that Heyward might not want to coach, the player said, “Yeah. We’ll see.”

Heyward has been playing football since he was 9. That’s almost three decades of playing the sport, which is why Walsh presumed Heyward to not be willing to spend an additional 15-or-so years in the sport as a coach. But good to know that he preferred not to shut the door on it completely. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t planned for life after retirement. If anything, he may have been working on it for a while now.

Months ago, NFL analyst Tyler Sullivan named Heyward among a group of veteran stars who could be playing their final season in 2025. But Heyward has already begun prepping.

Away from the grind of game day, he has carved out a growing presence in media, particularly through his podcast. Reflecting on his desire to continue building his media footprint in July, Heyward had noted, “My own production company, and to create something that has legacy to it. I love what Pat (McAfee) has done … I’d love to create something like that on the Not Just Football page.”

Well, the league has turned former players into successful media moguls on YouTube. Think about former Titans player Taylor Lewan and his Bussin’ with the Boys or the way former Chicago Bears player Brandon Marshall has stayed relevant with his I Am Athlete. And oh, let us not forget the Kelce brothers’ New Heights.

Heyward’s near future is a balancing act between legacy and transition. But this vision signals a promising second act anchored in storytelling and connection. He might not want the long hours and hectic regime of NFL coaches, but his production journey will allow him to remain influential within the sport while prioritizing family life.

For now, Cam Heyward will enjoy the NFL life

He is currently busy cherishing his time as a player and leader. Heyward has been named as a team captain for this season, earning the players-only vote for 11 back-to-back years. Interestingly, only Ben Roethlisberger was voted as the Steelers captain more times than Heyward. Roethlisberger had been a captain 13 times. But that success comes at a price: decades of relentless physical toll and emotional strain.

Plus, let us not forget that it was only recently that he was able to solve a contentious contract dispute with the Steelers. It was less than 24 hours before the team’s season opener against the Jets when he settled for a reworked contract. The new settlement added more than $3 million in incentives. In the process of adjusting a contract two years before its termination, the Steelers showed him how important he was to them. The team previously offered incentives to only their QBs.

So, for now, Heyward will focus on just this season, and anything else will be an afterthought.