The Pittsburgh Steelers and long-time defensive captain Cameron Heyward agreed to a new three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday. The deal is valued at $45 million, a team source confirmed.
The 35-year-old Heyward, who was entering the final year of his previous deal, is now signed through the 2026 season. The extension should allow the defensive lineman to take a few more runs at the Lombardi Trophy that’s eluded him and give him the chance to retire as a Steeler.
Heyward began to bring attention to his contract situation during OTAs, when he elected to skip the first two weeks of optional workouts. He eventually returned for offseason workouts and was also a full participant throughout camp.
However, his looming contract status remained a frequent point of discussion and speculation. During training camp in Latrobe, Pa., general manager Omar Khan expressed confidence that the two sides would come together.
“I think Cam’s got a lot of football ahead of him still,” Khan said. “I’ll leave it at this: I expect him to be here for years to come.”
A long-standing Steelers’ policy prohibits the team from negotiating contracts in-season. Just days before the self-imposed deadline, the GM made good on his promise.
Throughout the first 13 years of his NFL career, Heyward has established himself as a team leader, a perennial Pro Bowler and a humanitarian worthy of the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
A bit of a late bloomer, Heyward played some of the best football of his career in his late 20s and early 30s. From 2017 through 2022, he earned six consecutive Pro Bowl nods, averaging 8.9 sacks per season over that span. As recently as 2022, he logged double-digit sacks, finishing the season with 10.5.
However, last season was a disappointing one for the veteran defensive lineman. He injured his groin during training camp and attempted to play through it before ultimately undergoing surgery that sidelined him for six games. He had a second surgery shortly after the season but said during training camp he’s feeling no effects of the injuries.
“I think when I’m at the top of my game, I’m still a top-5 player at my position,” Heyward said.
The question is: How close can Heyward get to reclaiming his top form? And can he sustain it through the entire life of the contract?
Heyward admitted in training camp that he’s heard the detractors debate these questions online and that it’s fueled his fire.
“It’s a motivator, to say the least,” Heyward said. “When everyone’s against you, you kind of just want to shut everybody up. … It’s hard in the offseason because everybody’s got a frickin’ opinion about it.”
If Heyward does in fact play close to his Pro Bowl best, it would be a major shot in the arm for the defensive front. The Steelers’ run defense suffered immensely without Heyward healthy and at his best last season, finishing 19th.
At the same time, by giving Heyward the two additional years he wanted, the Steelers are betting he can maintain his best at 37 years old. While Heyward has shown his competitive fire and an ability to be productive later in his career, it remains to be seen if his body can keep up with his will.
Time will tell how that unfolds. If Heyward’s performance declines with age, the Steelers could continue to be challenged stopping the run and will need to continue to pump resources into their defensive front. But if Heyward plays like his Pro Bowl best, these next three seasons could be the extra push he needs to earn his spot in Canton and, perhaps, earn the Super Bowl ring that’s one of the few missing pieces on his resume.
No matter what, it will be a pivotal home stretch for a player who wanted to play his entire career in Pittsburgh and now gets that chance.
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(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
