Since initially contemplating retirement following an injury-riddled 2023 season, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward has made it clear that he’s looking for a two-year extension to continue playing in Pittsburgh. In an appearance today on The Jim Rome Show, Heyward didn’t have much to say regarding an update to the situation, indicating that a new contract doesn’t appear to be imminent. 
Heyward, 35, has spent all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Steelers, somehow getting better with age. Before reaching the fifth-year option of his first-round rookie contact, the Steelers extended Heyward to a six-year, $59.25MM deal. Up to that point, Heyward had showed plus attributes as a pass rusher with a career-high of 7.5 sacks in a season. After missing the team’s final 10 games of the first year of his new contract in 2016, Heyward delivered a career year with 12.0 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits the following season.
Since then, Heyward has perennially been considered one of the top interior pass rushers in the NFL, missing a Pro Bowl last year for the first time since that breakout season. In addition to a down year, Heyward missed more than two games with injury for the first time since 2016, sitting out six contests near the beginning of the year. That groin injury was part of Heyward’s consideration to hang up his cleats, but the Steelers are expecting Heyward to rebound strongly in 2024.
Since expressing his desires for a new contract, Heyward sat out of all spring activities for Pittsburgh. A month ago, he put forth the idea that he’d like to retire with the Steelers sometime after a new two-year deal. A week later, Heyward reeled in the line a bit, claiming that, should Pittsburgh pass up another contract, he’d be open to playing in a new city in 2025, after his current deal expires.
The only big piece of new information in today’s interview was that Heyward has already ruled out at least one destination should he hit the free agent market. Despite having attended college in Ohio with the Buckeyes and having family in the Cleveland area, Heyward doesn’t see himself in brown and orange. He claimed that he didn’t think he could play for a Steelers’ rival with “such bad blood” should he move on. That would likely rule out the Ravens and Bengals, as well, but for now, his focus remains in Pittsburgh.
If this is Heyward’s last season as a Steeler he’s probably going to look for a Super Bowl contender than can pay him market value. Whether he stays in Pittsburgh or goes I hope he gets a ring and not just a bag of cash.
Here’s the thing…market value for a 35 yr old D-linemen is well under $10 million and he’s thinking he can get a big payday. I hope the steelers don’t cave. Let him test free agency. He’s not a 3 down guy anymore.
Maybe not (probably not), but there’s no one exactly jumping up to fill that spot, either. A small for two years, with a lot of first year guarantees to placate Heyward, would be ideal in my mind. That will give Pittsburgh more time to draft a replacement and have Heyward as a backstop in that situation, while also maintaining a strong presence in the locker room. For a team as reliant on culture as Pittsburgh is, it would benefit them more than many other teams to preserve leadership there.
Of course, this is likely what the team is thinking, too. If this is the deal that Heyward is rejecting, well, the point is likely moot.
Not a 3 down guy? Pray tell what down you’re taking him out on? He’s the best run stopping AND pass rushing DL on the team still.
You want to manage his snaps because he’s 35 and coming off injury? Thats cool. Good luck. They try that every year. 2 years ago coming off injury he was on a reported snap count before the game and tripled it.
The Steeler’s policy with aging veterans has been very consistent for decades. When they’ve decided you’re done (and you may have had a stellar career)… you are done in Pittsburgh.