Forget the Stats — This Defensive Line Is Coming for Blood in 2025

Pittsburgh, PA – July 6, 2025

They don’t talk. They hit. And now, they’re ranked No. 1 in football.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line — long a symbol of grit, steel, and unshakable legacy — just got the recognition it deserves. According to Pro Football Focus, this isn’t just one of the better units in the NFL. It’s the best. Full stop.

“Led by edge defender T.J. Watt and interior defender Cameron Heyward, the Steelers’ defensive line continues to be the best in the NFL,” wrote Zoltán Buday, who placed Pittsburgh first overall in his 2025 defensive front rankings. And he didn’t stop there.

Watt, fresh off a season where he recorded 11.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and a staggering 91.4 PFF grade in run defense, remains the storm every quarterback prays to avoid. But the contract clouds are gathering. The Steelers haven’t resolved his situation yet — and until they do, there’s unease in the air.

Meanwhile, Cameron Heyward, at age 36, is redefining what longevity means in the trenches. After an injury-shortened 2023, he came back with 8 sacks, 71 tackles, and a first-team All-Pro nod, silencing anyone who thought his time had passed. “Bittersweet,” he called the offseason shift from Minkah Fitzpatrick to Jalen Ramsey — but make no mistake: he’s still the soul of this defense.

And then came the future: Derrick Harmon, the No. 21 pick out of Oregon, whose final college season featured 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. With Heyward mentoring him and Watt wrecking edges, Harmon steps into the fire ready.

Still, it’s not just the stars.

Alex Highsmith, despite missing time, still posted 6 sacks in 11 games. Keeanu Benton, a breakout waiting to happen, posted PFF pass rush grades of 80.0 and 75.7 in back-to-back years. The depth, the rotation, the relentless wave — it’s all here.

Some fans look at 2024’s box score — 16th in sacks, 14th in TFL — and shrug. But numbers can lie. Advanced metrics tell the truth:

• #1 in PFF pass rush grade (90.5)

• #6 in tackling

• #11 in run defense

• #8 in dropback EPA allowed

This front doesn't care about headlines. It cares about pain. And it dishes it out every Sunday.

In a division stacked with playmakers and pressure, the Steelers are entering 2025 the way they always do — with blood in their eyes and iron in their hearts. You want flash? Try another team. In Pittsburgh, defense is the identity.

Stay tuned to ESPN.