Cam Heyward hopes to have proved the Steelers wrong for the final time following his Week 3 performance against Patriots
Heyward was always right.
A little over a year ago, Cam Heyward decided to hold out of organized team activities in an effort to receive a new deal. Coming off an injury-plagued season in 2023 and approaching his mid-30s, the Pittsburgh Steelers were rightfully hesitant.
So, he signed what essentially was a one-year sweetener, went on to play at an All-Pro level in 2024, and then came back to them again this offseason, which turned many Steelers fans off. He would receive some incentives and accepted, but it wasn’t exactly what he was looking for.
Well, after a slow Week 1, Heyward has worked himself into football shape, and he’s forced not one, not two, but three turnovers in the last two games. Meaning, should this level of play continue, Heyward will have proved the Steelers front office wrong in back-to-back seasons, and for what he hopes will be the final time.
Cam Heyward will be coming back to the table in 2026
Sunday was a historic day for Aaron Rodgers, but it was an abysmal day for those around him. The soon-to-be 42-year-old, alongside his defense, is the only reason the Steelers pulled out the win against the New England Patriots.
Pittsburgh’s defense forced FIVE turnovers on Sunday. Two of them were a direct result of Heyward, thanks to a tipped pass that forced an interception and a forced fumble on the goal line. He single-handedly prevented two touchdowns.
“I’m looking for my contract to be addressed. Honestly, [I’m] looking to be valued,” Heyward told Steelers media on August 19th. “In my eyes. When I look around at my position, I think I’m like 22nd [highest paid] as a [defensive] tackle, and I’m 36th as a [defensive] lineman. 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 had to really justify playing at the number.
“I understand I signed a contract last year, 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.’ 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.”
One thing you can be sure of is that we haven’t heard the last of the contract talks between the Steelers and Heyward. He might be a one-helmet guy, a team captain, a Steelers legend, but he and his representation won’t just sit around and take less than market value.
Heyward has proved not once, but twice, that he still has plenty left in the tank. He’s still one of the best at his position. Now, it’s on the Steelers to hold up their end of the bargain.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
Aaron Rodgers’ historic achievement against Patriots overshadows an offensive problem that the Steelers can no longer ignore
He’s finally done it.
