Steelers’ Cameron Heyward Breaks Silence on Contract Standoff

Four-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward hasn’t participated in team drills at practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer. That’s because Heyward is seeking a new contract after arguably the best campaign of his career at 35 years old.

Heyward addressed his contract situation in front of reporters Monday.

“I’m looking for my contract to be addressed,” Heyward said, via The Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Chris Adamaski. “When I look around, at my position, I’m like 22nd as a D-tackle, I’m 36th as a D-lineman. I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field.

“It’s hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at,” Heyward added. “I understand I signed a contract last year. But to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told them, ‘When I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back …

“I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit, but in my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it.”

Heyward also explained that the Steelers asked him to take a pay cut before the 2024 season. That was part of the contract extension the defensive tackle signed last season.

While the deal included a pay decrease, Heyward also received two additional years through his aged-37 season.

Steelers Cameron Heyward Made First Contract Request in February

Heyward’s issue with his contract didn’t become public knowledge until August 7. But the defensive tackle told the media Monday that he approached the Steelers about a new deal in February.

In summary, the defensive tackle said he’s “looking to be valued” with a new deal.

Heyward possesses an average annual salary of $14.5 million on the extension he signed last year. According to Spotrac, that’s tied for 35th among all defensive linemen.

The potential future Hall of Fame defensive lineman badly outplayed that contract amount. Heyward posted 71 combined tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, eight sacks and 11 pass defenses in 17 games.

Behind those statistics, he made first-team All-Pro for the first time in three years.

Could Heyward Miss Regular Season Games While Aiming for New Contract?

Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin downplayed the idea that Heyward has been a distraction for the team in camp. To reporters Monday, Austin called the defensive tackle “a leader” and emphasized that he’s been “in every meeting.”

The question, though, is will Heyward be on the field when the season begins? The defensive tackle didn’t rule out the possibility that he won’t.

The TribLive’s Joe Rutter reported Monday that Heyward said he “is prepared to sit out” regular season games if he doesn’t get the contract value he wants.

A few analysts at Steelers Depot have argued the easiest way for the Steelers to give Heyward a pay increase is “to bump part of his $12.95 million non-guaranteed roster bonus for 2026 to 2025.” That would give him more cash for the 2025 season.

While Heyward’s average contract value is $14.5 million, he’s not set to earn that amount in 2025.

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The fact Heyward has two years remaining on his contract complicates matters. If he was set to be a free agent next spring, then the Steelers would likely be motivated to provide the four-time first-team All-Pro a raise and extension.

But the Steelers don’t typically re-negotiation contracts when there’s two years remaining on the deal. That’s customary for most teams around the league.