Carson Bruener earns some national recognition.
For the first time since 2018, no Steelers were named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-NFL team as the PFWA announced its all-star teams for the 2025 season.
However, veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward was named to the PFWA’s All-AFC team, while linebacker Carson Bruener earned the special teamer spot on the All-Rookie team.
Heyward has now made four career PFWA All-AFC teams over his career. In 2025 at 36 years old, he ranked first among defensive tackles in solo tackles and total snaps, per PFF. He also logged 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and six pass deflections.
Bruener, a seventh-round pick by Pittsburgh in the 2025 NFL Draft, played college football at Washington. He’s also the son of current Steelers scout and former tight end Mark Bruener.
Carson Bruener made an immediate impact for the Steelers in 2025, playing 287 of his 288 total snaps on special teams, where he logged 19 tackles. He was named a PFF second-team All-Pro for his efforts as a special teamer (Heyward was first team).
Bruener isn’t the only Pittsburgh special teamer to earn honors this offseason, with Steelers wide receiver and special teamer Ben Skowronek earning a Pro Bowl this season, the first of his career.
However, Bruener and Skowronek will be without longtime Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith in 2026, who left for an opening at the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday.
Category: General Sports
