Cameron Heyward accepted that he had lost the Ohio State-Michigan bet — one he initiated with rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson — but the price to pay came in the form of a baseball cap that didn’t fit.

So Heyward hung the hat on the microphone stand as he addressed reporters Wednesday morning at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, then scoffed at the consequence of his alma mater’s loss to its archrival.

“It’s too damn small,” Heyward said. “I know I’ve got a big head, but …”

If there’s a hat that fits Heyward, it’s one he’s wearing with pride. Pro Football Focus has given the 35-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain the top grade (90.6) of any defensive tackle in the NFL this season, his 14th in the league. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Heyward leads all players with seven passes batted down, ranks second in pass rush grades, tackles (36) and sacks (eight) and fourth in pressures (43), per PFF. His 17 quarterback hits are the most of any interior defensive lineman, only six fewer than T.J. Watt.

It helps that the six-time Pro Bowl pick and three-time first-team All-Pro is healthy after being bothered by a groin injury last season that limited him to 11 games, a career-worst three QB hits and his lowest sack total (two) as a starter for the Steelers.

Heyward attributes his success this season as much to his technique and film study as he does his health. And without having to say so, he makes it clear that there is no shortage of motivation to dispel his doubters.

“That’s all included,” Heyward said. “The desire to keep trying to get better.”

Watt said Heyward shows every week “why he’s one of the best in the world,” and Sunday’s 44-38 win at the Cincinnati Bengals was one of his best performances of the season. Heyward had five tackles (three solo), two tackles for losses, including a sack, two quarterback hits and a pass defensed. And the numbers don’t tell the entire story.

Heyward came through with big plays at critical moments. He answered a pass interference penalty that gave the Bengals first-and-goal at the 1 in the second quarter by bursting through the line to drop running back Chase Brown for a 3-yard loss. He sacked Joe Burrow for an 8-yard loss in the third quarter, which was followed by a false start penalty that made it third-and-21. Heyward’s tipped pass early in the fourth quarter landed in the hands of cornerback Donte Jackson for an interception.

Heyward drew laughs in the locker room Wednesday when he lamented that “you don’t get anything for the tip” when it comes to being rewarded with one of the team’s “The Culture Takeaway” T-shirts for a tipped pass, even if it leads to a pick, then asked not to be quoted.

But the Steelers turn serious when they talk about Heyward’s impact.

“He’s an old dude who’s playing some really good football, very stout,” Watt said after the game. “I know he wants to be out there every snap, but he’s making every single snap that he’s in there count. A guy that’s just a true leader, a true Steeler, one-helmet guy.”

The Steelers made sure of that when they signed Heyward to a fourth contract, a three-year deal worth $45 million that includes $16 million guaranteed. It wasn’t so much of a reward for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year as it was an investment. The Steelers believe — and Heyward wants to prove — that he still has a lot left to give to the game.

“I think that’s big. He looks at things like that. If you count him out, he’ll show you why you shouldn’t have counted him out,” Steelers defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk said. “I think he’s proven a lot of people wrong this year and a lot of people right. A lot of people do believe in him because he is such a dominant guy and has been for so long. He’s done a hell of a job this year at proving people wrong.”

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What Heyward has proven is that his value goes beyond the field. Where Watt credited Heyward, along with defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, for preaching about the installation of the defensive plan and setting the tone, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked about “the things that tee up” his performance, from the buy-in to the team’s culture and game plans to the level of professionalism and attention to detail.

“I’m hoping that the young guys see it and pay as much attention to it as the playmaking,” Tomlin said.

Second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton said Heyward has shown him “savvy vet things,” like how to be mindful of what to put into his body and how to take care of it.

“Last year was my first year. It was sad to see him not playing like he wanted to play, being injured,” Benton said. “But being the veteran and professional that he is, getting his body together, not letting off the gas at all and making the comeback this year is amazing. It’s nothing short of what I thought he’d do.

“I didn’t expect anything different. I’m figuring out what he brings to the table. He knows what he brings to the table. He’s nothing short of who I thought he’d be. I’m going to say ‘congratulations’ to this point, but I think there’s still more in the tank.”

Not only has Heyward played more games (206) than any defender in Steelers history but he also has the most tackles for loss (129), and his 86 1/2 sacks and 196 quarterback hits trail only Watt among the team’s career leaders. With 430 career tackles, he should surpass safeties Ryan Clark and Darren Perry (448 each) to move into the top 10 all-time.

But Heyward wants to do more than go down as a Steelers great. He has his sights set on the Pro Football Hall of Fame and knows his career is incomplete without a Super Bowl championship on his resume. So Heyward has no shortage of motivation for his play this season.

“He’s just going out there and really just showing you what he can do,” Loudermilk said. “He could go out there and talk and say, ‘I did this, I did that,’ but he doesn’t have to because you can just put on a tape and see what he does. I’ve seen him do stuff like this. He’s fully capable of it. Seeing him be able to do it the whole year is amazing. I’m sure it’ll keep going, especially as these games start weighing more and more. He’s always down to step up.”