Steelers’ Cameron Heyward Hints At Sitting Out Into Season Over Contact

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward, amid a hold-in, strongly suggested he would be willing to miss regular-season games as he seeks to renegotiate a contract extension signed in 2024.

“There are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” he said in his first public comments since ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Heyward’s hold-in and contract request last week.

He added: “My goal is to be out here, and I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve had to be honest with myself to be ready for every option. And has it gone the way I wanted 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 [in] Week 1.”

Heyward, drafted No. 31 by the Steelers in 2011, said his formal request to renegotiate his contract dates back to February. He decided to begin holding in and not participating in camp practices late last week, partly because of the state of negotiations.

“Can’t say I’m not disappointed in where we’re at,” he said. “I think it’s pretty simple with how it could be handled. There’s been reporting about how it could be done, but I just wish I could just be out there not having to worry about this.”

The 36-year-old signed a two-year, $29 million extension with the Steelers in September 2024, putting him under contract through the 2026 season. According to OverTheCap.com, his contract is $14.5 million average annual value is ranked 23rd for interior defensive lineman.

“I’m looking to be valued,” Heyward said. “I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field, so it’s hard for me, after the year I’ve had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”

“I understand. I signed a contract last year, but to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told him when I have an All-Pro year, expecting me to come back and you can look at the contract and see what it was. But 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.”