Pittsburgh Steelers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Kirby Leei-USA TODAY Sports

Heyward reiterates desire to finish career with Steelers

Originally posted on DK Pittsburgh Sports
By Greg Macafee | Last updated Jul 3, 2024 8:42 PM ET

While making an appearance on The Jim Rome Show on Wednesday, Cam Heyward made one thing abundantly clear: He wants to play for the Steelers for the rest of his career but is open to playing elsewhere if he isn't valued properly.

Heyward, 35, is entering the final season of a four-year, $65.6-million extension he signed in September of 2020. He is set to have a $22.4 million cap hit in 2024 before hitting free agency in 2025. However, Heyward would like to get something done so he can remain a Steeler.

"Obviously I would love to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for the rest of my career and getting a contract would lay claim to that," Heyward said. "My goal is to be a Pittsburgh Steeler this year and have a good year to hopefully come back and play more games with them."

In early June, Heyward showed up for the final week of OTAs after skipping the first two weeks of the voluntary sessions. When he spoke to media then, he said that his presence wasn't indicative of progress in extension talks. Rather, he was there to fulfill his duties as a team leader before mandatory minicamp began.

Negotiations have been ongoing and there has been no news on that front as of late. However, if the two sides can't come to an agreement, Heyward said Wednesday that he is willing to play elsewhere.

It is a business after all.

"I'm looking forward to playing after this season, this is not a one-and-done thing," Heyward told Rome. "Obviously, I'd like to be in Pittsburgh but if it comes to it I will play in another city."

Wednesday:
12:40p ET Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA)
1:00p #WhatsYourBeef
2:00p Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward)
: @InfSportsNet
: Sirius XM 158
: @X https://t.co/3CA4TGDyFi
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) July 3, 2024

Heyward is coming off a 2024 season where he missed six full games after suffering a groin injury in the Steelers' Week 1 loss to the 49ers. Heyward said in June that he had surgery both in-season and this past offseason, adding the in-season surgery was on his groin on his right side while the offseason surgery was on his left groin to help tighten a muscle. With training camp exactly three weeks away, Heyward said Wednesday he is close to 100%.

"There are no limitations, it's just about signing off and getting ready for the season," Heyward said. "I'm doing everything. I'm just continuing to build speed and strength on top of that. Approaching this season, I'm just excited. We have a great team returning. There are a lot of new parts, but I understand that I have to play my best. I'm looking forward to doing it and I should be playing at a high level this year."

Whether or not Heyward receives a contract extension ahead of the season, his health should be a top priority because when he is fully healthy, he is still one of the best defensive tackles in football. Heyward was named to the Pro Bowl for a sixth straight season in 2022 after recording 10.5 sacks and 74 tackles. The year prior he recorded 10 sacks, 89 total tackles, 15 of which went for a loss and was named First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2021, a feat he accomplished three times between 2017 and 2021.

Heyward is the heart and soul of the defense and whether he has a contract extension or not ahead of the regular season, he'll play a large role in what the Steelers accomplish.

This article first appeared on DK Pittsburgh Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: