Steelers' Mike Tomlin Detailed Reason Why Cameron Heyward Appeared On Offense In Week 18

The Pittsburgh Steelers' rollercoaster of a season did not end on Sunday evening. The Steelers are kings of the AFC North once again after a thrilling 26-24 victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens in a game that perfectly encapsulated the Steelers' campaign. After a lackluster first half — only scoring three points, — the Steelers' offense came alive in the second half, firing on all cylinders behind quarterback and future first ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, including 133 yards on 11 of 14 passing in the fourth quarter alone. 

The electric comeback, however, would not have been possible without the Steelers' version of the tush push and the adjustments they made after losing tight end Darnell Washington due to a broken forearm. 

The Steelers' tush push, when the offense lines up for a "Spartan" push, as the runner in these situations, Connor Heyward, played college football at Michigan State. The Steelers had a problem, though. Without Washington — the unsung hero of the Spartan push — who steps up to fill the void? Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about it during his post-game press conference.

"We needed to replace a big man with a big man." Tomlin said.

The team found a pusher for Heyward, someone he was familiar with, his brother, and Steelers captain, Cameron Heyward. The Steelers had a pivotal moment in the first quarter. With the Ravens already up 7-0 on the Steelers, the Steelers decided to go for it on fouth and short rather than punt, despite being on their own 45-yard line. 

In this high-leverage moment, the Steelers trusted their Spartan push, handing the ball to Connor with Cameron right behind him, trying to push him through the pile. The attempt failed, and the Ravens immediately took control of the game. Other coaches would've been hesitant to go back to the same scheme, but Tomlin is not most coaches, and neither is Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith.

The Steelers called the Spartan push in multiple key short-yardage situations, trusting the Heywards and their high-percentage approach. Down a touchdown in the third quarter and facing a fourth and one at the Ravens' two-yard line, the Steelers went back to the same Spartan push that got stuffed in the first half, and this time, the Heyward family was able to convert. 

The Steelers then immediately returned it and scored a touchdown. For a team with a quarterback in Rodgers whose athletic prime is long behind him, the importance of having a successful short-yardage package like this cannot ever be understated. 

Steelers Storm Into Playoffs 

The Steelers have some momentum entering the postseason. Not only did they clinch the AFC North, but they did so at home, in front of Steeler Nation. As the fourth seed in the playoffs, the Steelers will once again play at home, this time against the five-seeded Houston Texans. The odds will once again be against the Steelers, as they are three-point underdogs in the matchup for Monday Night Football. 

Despite being the underdogs, when you have the experience and confidence of Rodgers and Tomlin on your side, the odds are never insurmountable. These are two people who have seen everything that one can see in the world of the NFL. 

Fittingly, the 2025 Steelers team has been counted out plenty of times, and for valid reasons. Sometimes, you need to have faith in the process and the result, regardless of the bumps along the way. This Steelers season is the perfect representation of that. 

The Steelers' offense will be getting a significant boost for their upcoming Wild Card Round game against the Texans. Superstar receiver DK Metcalf will be making his return from a two-game suspension due to a fan altercation in the Steelers' Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions. The Steelers are coming into the playoffs with momentum, reinforcements, and health. The sky may be the limit with a home playoff game coming up.

#SteelerNation