Pittsburgh Steelers star Cam Heyward speaks out on contract dispute

Cam Heyward is expressing his frustration with the Pittsburgh Steelers and his contract situation. While speaking to reporters on Monday, the Steelers’ All-Pro defensive lineman said he wants his contract to reflect his production on the field.

“It’s hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at,” Cameron Heyward said, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. “I understand I signed the contract last year. But to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told the team when I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back.

“People look at the contract and see what it was. I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit, but in my head, I use it as motivation to go out there and prove it.”

It was reported last week that Heyward hasn’t fully participated in practice this summer, as he awaits a restructured deal. Before the start of the 2024 season, the former Ohio State star agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract extension.

Will Cam Heyward sit out games if the Steelers don’t give him a new contract?

Heyward also talked about being approached last year and taking a pay cut. “We ended up getting the deal done,” he said. “When I look at the market and I look at what I’ve done, it’s hard to really wrap my head around playing at a number where I’m not even half of what the rest of the market is.”

Heyward then teased the possibility of sitting out games to get a new contract. “I think there are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” he stated.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Heyward is currently scheduled to be the NFL’s 36th highest-paid defensive lineman this season, and its 18th highest-paid defensive tackle. This offseason, the Steelers have given new contracts to wide receiver DK Metcalf, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and edge rusher TJ Watt, who became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

In 2024, Heyward recorded 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 11 passes defended. He was selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, named to the All-Pro First Team for the fourth time and earned votes for the Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year awards.