Cameron Heyward
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward offered clarification on what he meant with his cryptic social media post.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cameron Heyward have a decision to make this offseason about the future of their relationship. But contrary to what Heyward’s recent X post may have suggested, no decision has been made yet.
Heyward clarified during the latest episode of his Not Just Football podcast the GIF he posted on X on Sunday wasn’t about his future. Rather, it was meant to signify the end of the 2025 NFL season.
The GIF Heyward posted to his X account was a book dramatically closing shut.
Cam Heyward
“We’re gonna close the book on this season,” said Heyward. “I closed the book on this season as well.”
Cameron Heyward’s Podcast Co-Host Calls His Recent Post ‘Dirty Work’
Sending ambiguous messages, with or without words, isn’t something only NFL players do. But football stars understand how they can go viral by leaving their messages up to interpretation.
That appears to be what Heyward did with his X post on Super Bowl Sunday.
It’s great that he clarified it, but Steelers fans and media pundits were left to wonder if Heyward was retiring for more than 48 hours.
Heyward’s podcast co-host, Hayden Walsh, jokingly called out the Steelers defensive lineman for his cryptic GIF.
“That was dirty work by you,” Walsh said. “You know what you were doing.”
Heyward provided an innocent response that wasn’t particularly convincing.
“That was dirty work? All I was saying is I finally get to close the season,” Heyward said. “It was from Super Bowl day. I had to do stuff on Super Bowl day.”
Heyward to Seek New Contract?
The All-Pro defensive lineman told Jim Rome during Super Bowl week that he doesn’t want to play for another team. But other than that, Heyward has been mum on his future.
Heyward remains under contract for the 2026 season. So, he’s unlikely to play for another team.
But it’s quite possible that the defensive lineman will want the team to prove they want him back with another contract extension.
That’s essentially what The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac implied while speaking on the radio Monday.
“I have gotten no indication that Cam Heyward doesn’t want to come back,” Dulac said on 102.5 WDVE, via Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney. “He has a year left, and not only does he want to come back after wanting a new contract last year, and the Steelers not giving it to him because he has two years left, I would assume he’ll come back, and then ask for a contract extension.
“And then it’ll get real interesting to see what goes on. That’s what I expect to happen with Cam.”
Heyward will turn 37 in May, but he has yet to show any signs of decline outside of seasons in which he played through injury. After back-to-back All-Pro seasons in 2024 and 2025, he has earned another contract.
The question is if the new Steelers coaching staff will agree. Under head coach Mike McCarthy, the team will have an entire new defensive staff. That includes new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and first-year defensive line coach Domata Peko.
Heyward received contract incentives as a deal sweetener last summer during his hold-in. However, the defensive lineman and the team didn’t reach those incentives. So, he didn’t get anymore pay.
If the Steelers want Heyward back for 2026, then it will likely require a more serious contract offer.