Steelers star floats idea of playing for rival team amid contract negotiation

Pittsburgh Steelers defenseman lineman Cameron Heyward wants to spend his entire career with one team, but as he and the organization struggle to agree to a new contract extension beyond this season, he recognizes the possibility of potentially playing for another team. 

Earlier this week, he floated the idea of playing for a division rival. Specifically, the Cleveland Browns.

Heyward said, via the Athletic's Mark Kaboly, that he has already spoken to his wife about the possibility of playing elsewhere and that she thinks the idea of it could be fun. 

He went on to specify that he still has family in Cleveland and that his wife is from Cleveland. Heyward also played his college football at Ohio State, giving him plenty of ties to Ohio. 

Heyward is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season and is reportedly seeking a three-year deal from the Steelers. He has been a key leader for the Steelers and one of the best players on their defense for more than a decade, but his age and recent injury history could make a longer-term a bit of a risk.

Whether it is in Pittsburgh or elsewhere, Heyward has every intention of playing in 2025. And his willingness to talk about playing for another team seems like a pretty strong power move to put more pressure on the Steelers front office. 

There will probably have to be some strong movement before the start of the season to keep him in Pittsburgh because the Steelers famously do not negotiate new contracts during the season, and they do not seem willing to make an exception here.