Cam Heyward Holds Out for a Raise, Willing to Sit Out Games to Get It

Cam Heyward isn’t messing around. The veteran Steelers defensive tackle, a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, wants a new contract and he’s ready to sit out regular-season games if that’s what it takes.

Heyward told reporters Monday that he asked the Steelers for a reworked deal back in February after another standout season. Nearly three weeks into training camp, there has been zero progress.

The 36-year-old has been “holding in” during camp — participating in some individual drills but skipping fully padded 11-on-11 reps. On Monday, Heyward stayed on the sideline in street clothes as Pittsburgh wrapped up its final workouts at Saint Vincent College.

Last summer, the Steelers asked Heyward to take a pay cut. Instead, they settled on a reworked deal through 2026. Heyward responded by bouncing back from an injury-plagued 2023 to post eight sacks, 71 tackles, and 11 passes defensed and helped Pittsburgh to a 10-7 record and their fourth playoff appearance in five years.

Coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin aren’t worried about Heyward’s limited participation in camp. “Cam’s been doing this a long time,” Tomlin said. “I don’t work Cam a lot in these scenarios.”

The Steelers do have some salary cap space, but they’ve already committed big money to stars like T.J. Watt, DK Metcalf, and recent addition Jalen Ramsey.

Heyward, the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, has always wanted to be a “one helmet guy,” meaning he’d like to spend his entire career in Pittsburgh. But his tough stance on getting paid is stirring things up in what has otherwise been a quiet camp.