Cam Heyward and the Steelers Reach a Revised Contractual Agreement
PITTSBURGH – Less than 24 hours before the start of the season against the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers and their defensive captain, Cam Heyward, reached an agreement to restructure his contract. This agreement adds more than 3 million dollars in incentives to this year’s deal. The agreement allows Heyward, 36, to earn up to $18 million in 2025, a significant increase compared to the $14.75 million he was originally due to receive under the two-year contract extension he signed a year ago. With the contract dispute resolved, Heyward will play on Sunday against the Jets. The Steelers broke multiple team precedents by revising Heyward’s deal, not only adjusting a contract two years before its expiration, but also offering him incentives, something that was previously only done with their quarterbacks.According to OverTheCap.com, the previous average annual value of his contract, at $14.5 million, placed him 23rd among interior defensive linemen. Heyward stated that he had told the Steelers that he planned to review the contract after the 2024 season if he achieved an All-Pro designation. Heyward requested a contract review in February, after his fourth All-Pro season, in which he recorded eight sacks, 11 batted passes, and 20 quarterback hits, following a 2023 campaign shortened by injury. Heyward had a brief, late holdout at training camp amid frustrations over negotiations, but returned to practice and participated in individual and team periods starting August 19. Heyward participated fully in every practice day this week, except for his usual veteran’s day off on Thursday. He was not listed with a game designation on Friday’s final injury report.Not many players have received incentives here. Many of them come from quarterbacks. There are different ways to handle the situation. I’m in favor of showing it. I’m not running away from it. My career has always been about showing it, and if it were that way, I would, but I have time, let’s see what happens.
Cam Heyward
There are loud voices, and everyone has an opinion, but I can’t control that. If you know how I work, you know how I play. That’s all that matters. I have to make a decision for my family. This is a business. I can’t play this game forever, and just as I am maximized on the field, I want to be maximized off it. I don’t want to be taken care of that way. It’s not being greedy, it’s simply the way this game is. It’s not forever, the NFL. So I would tell all the guys, maximize your opportunities and move on from there.
Cam Heyward
