I had to “eat” and “absorb” the criticism after a weak 2023 season

Cam Heyward enters his 14th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, coming off the worst season of his career.

Heyward didn’t get the contract extension he wanted after an injury-plagued season and could be heading into his final year with the Steelers. The 35-year-old has heard all the criticism that he’s on his way out and might not have it after a two-sack season.

“I had to eat (the criticism) and absorb it,” Heyward said Monday, via the Associated Press. “Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but I want it to be wrong, and I think I’m just looking forward to playing some good football.”

The five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro is well aware of a major gap in his professional resume: He never helped the Steelers reach the Super Bowl.

“I laugh when people say, ‘Oh, this guy deserves to win the Super Bowl or whatever,’” he said. “The only way you deserve it is if you earn it, so that’s always been my motto, and for the guys in the locker room, we have to earn it week in and week out.”

Heyward was named a team captain for the tenth time in his career, joining Ben Roethlisberger and Sam Davis as the only Steelers players to achieve the honor in double-digit winning seasons.