Cameron Heyward prepared to sit out games in regular season if contract with Steelers isn't addressed

Cam Heyward seeking a new contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t a recent development, he revealed Monday afternoon. And he’s prepared to continue his “hold in” negotiation tactic into the regular season, if necessary.

Heyward didn’t discount sitting out games in the regular season when he spoke with reporters for the first time since his request for a new deal became public Thursday. The season begins Sept. 7 at the New York Jets.

“I think there are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” Heyward said.

The 36-year-old defensive tackle hasn’t practiced with teammates since the first week of training camp. His workout sessions have been limited to individual work, similar to the “hold in” he did in 2020 when he was seeking a new contract.

That four-year contract averaged $16.4 million in salary. When his contract was extended last summer, the average value dropped to $14.5 million on the two-year extension that Heyward received.

Now, coming off a season in which he was named a first-team All-Pro defensive tackle for the first time since 2021, Heyward is seeking a bump in pay. Heyward is making $14.75 million this season, with $13.45 million already having been paid in the form of a roster bonus. His base salary is $1.3 million.

He said Monday that his agent first approached the organization about reworking his contract in February at the NFL Combine.

“I’m honestly looking to be valued,” Heyward said. “When I look around and at my position, I think I’m 22nd as a D-tackle and 36th as a D-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 that year I’ve had to justify the number I’m playing at.”

The Steelers typically wait until a player enters the final year of his contract before engaging in negotiations. Quarterback was the exception when Ben Roethlisberger was with the team. The Steelers also gave wide receiver Antonio Brown an advance on future salaries before giving him a new contract in 2017 with a year left on his deal.

“I understand I signed a contract last year,” Heyward said, “but, to be completely honest, when I signed, I told them when I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back. You can look at the contract and see what it was. Everyone kind of giggled a little bit, but, in my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it.”

Heyward was named a first-team All-Pro for the fourth time in his career. He was selected for the Pro Bowl for the seventh time. The honors came in a year in which Heyward had eight sacks and 11 pass breakups while playing in all 17 games.

The previous year, Heyward was limited to 11 games because of a pectoral injury, and his sacks total dipped to two.

“When I was approached, I was asked to take a pay cut,” Heyward said. “We ended up getting the deal done. When I look at the market and what I’ve done, it’s hard to wrap my head around playing at a number where I’m not even half of what the rest of the market is.”

According to spotrac.com, 18 defensive tackles are averaging $15 million per season. Of that number, 12 have an average salary of $20 million or more.

Heyward is due a $12.95 million roster bonus in May 2026. One option would be for the Steelers to take part of that roster bonus and allocate it for this season in the form of a signing bonus.

“I would definitely say that is something similar to what I’m thinking about,” Heyward said.

Heyward elected to discontinue practicing in team portions of drills when he saw negotiations toward a new contract not progressing. He said he spoke with general manager Omar Khan on Thursday, and that he has had conversations with team president Art Rooney II.

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed with where we are,” Heyward said. “I think it’s pretty simple how it can be handled. … I just wish I could be out there and not have to worry about this.”

Heyward was one of 15 healthy veterans and 23 players overall who did not dress for the preseason opener Saturday at Jacksonville. He didn’t play at all in the 2024 preseason, and he logged just 10 snaps in the 2023 preseason.

“Cam has been doing this a long time,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “I don’t work Cam a lot in these scenarios anyway. I need to know more about Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black and others like Logan Lee. That’s the mindset with how I’ve approached it.”

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin pointed out that Heyward hasn’t missed a team meeting, has taken reps on the blocking sled and has worked with the team’s younger defensive linemen in one-on-one drills.

“I don’t worry about Cam Heyward and him being ready,” Austin said. “I don’t give it a second thought.”