Could Cameron Heyward sit out games amid a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Cameron Heyward Teased Contract Negotiations With Pittsburgh Steelers Before Last Season
Cam Heyward, who is the 22nd paid DT, said he’s “looking to be valued.”
“It’s hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
Said he told the team, “When I have an all-pro year, expect me to come back.” pic.twitter.com/8TvY3d9YJL
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) August 11, 2025
Hewayrd wants a raise.
Before the 2024 season, Heywaard was asked to take a pay cut after an injury-riddled 2023 season.
The All-Pro defensive tackle signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension before the 2024 season. The deal includes $29 million in new money, with $15 million at signing and $16 million fully guaranteed.
Although Heyward agreed to a reworked deal, he promised to return to the negotiating table the next year if he was an All-Pro.
“I understand that I signed a contract last year,” Heyward told reporters via The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. “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 backed up his promise by earning First-Team All-Pro for the fourth time in his career. Heyward recorded 71 tackles and eight sacks.
Heyward carries a $14.75 million average annual value, which ranks 23rd among interior defensive linemen (Overthecap.com).
Would Cameron Heyward Sit Out Games?
Cameron Heyward in Year 14:
⚫ 44 defensive stops (1st)
🟡 90.1 PFF grade (2nd)The No. 30 player and No. 3 DI on the PFF50 pic.twitter.com/NLA7FVoEQU
— PFF (@PFF) July 16, 2025
As he waits for a contract extension, Heyward is holding in and not practicing.
If a resolution is not reached, would Heyward consider sitting out games?
“There are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” Heyward said on Monday.
“My goal is to be out here,” Heyward continued. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve had to be honest with myself to be ready for every option. Has it gone the way I wanted it to go? No. If it did, I would be out there playing and practicing. But I’d like to put this in the rearview mirror and worry about ball and worry about the New York Jets Week 1.”
Heward revealed that he first requested to renegotiate his contract in February. The 36-year-old made the decision to hold in at training camp last week to express his displeasure with negotiations.
The Steelers play the Jets at MetLife Stadium in Week 1.
