NFL player Cam Heyward of the Steelers is willing to forgo regular-season games in order to negotiate a higher salary.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Cam Heyward Seeks Renegotiated Deal Amid Contract Dispute
Cam Heyward, a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is seeking a renegotiated deal that would include a pay raise reflecting his value. The current contract, signed last summer, runs through 2026. However, Heyward has expressed dissatisfaction with the current structure, particularly the lack of guaranteed money beyond 2025 and a pay cut he took as part of the 2024 deal.
Heyward, who was selected to the All-Pro team for the fourth time in his 14-year career in February, has been participating in some individual workouts but skipping some fully-padded 11-on-11 snaps during training camp. He stood on the sideline in street clothes on Monday as the Steelers began the final workouts of their annual three-week visit to Saint Vincent College.
The Steelers have some contractual flexibility, such as restructuring base salary or incentives, but their options could increase Heyward’s 2025 cap hit by $6 million, which complicates negotiations. Heyward likely opposes incentive-based raises, preferring guaranteed compensation.
If this dispute continues into the season, Heyward's absence could significantly affect the Steelers’ defense, given his role as a veteran leader and premier defensive tackle. However, the final outcome depends on the Steelers’ willingness to meet his demands and progress in negotiations as the regular season approaches.
Prominent players like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay have publicly urged the Steelers to resolve the situation quickly to keep the team intact. Heyward, the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, has stated he wants to be a "one helmet guy," meaning he would prefer to spend his entire career in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have doled out hefty contracts to TJ Watt, DK Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey. Yet, Heyward's aggressive stance has thrown a wrinkle into a relatively quiet training camp. Neither Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin nor defensive coordinator Teryl Austin are bothered by Heyward's position or his lack of participation at this time of year.
In 2023, despite injury, Heyward posted first-team All-Pro level numbers, including matching his personal best with 36 tackles, eight sacks, and 11 passes batted down. His performance helped the Steelers go 10-7 and reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
As of August 2025, nearly three weeks into training camp, there has been no movement on a reworked deal for Heyward. The Steelers have a little bit of wiggle room under the salary cap, but the negotiations remain a key point of interest for the team and its fans.
- Cam Heyward, an accomplished defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is aiming to renegotiate his contract, expressing a desire for more guaranteed money and a reversal of a pay cut from a previous deal.
- If the contract dispute between Cam Heyward and the Steelers persists into the season, it could potentially impact the Steelers' performance, especially in terms of their defense, due to Heyward's role as a seasoned leader and premier defensive tackle.
- Despite the ongoing negotiations, the Steelers have been pooling resources elsewhere, having doled out hefty contracts to players such as TJ Watt, DK Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey, but Heyward's aggressive stance has added a complex layer to an otherwise peaceful training camp.
