Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward warming up in the middle of a training camp practice.
The New York Jets might catch a break in Week 1.
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive lineman Cam Heyward has threatened to skip the season opener against the Jets amid a contract dispute.
“There are definitely options out there that could reflect that,” Heyward told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor when asked if he would be willing to miss games during the regular season.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed on social media that Heyward “hasn’t fully participated in practice yet this summer as he awaits a restructured contract that has not gotten done.”
With little fanfare, Steelers four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward hasn’t fully participated in practice yet this summer as he awaits a restructured contract that has not gotten done, per sources.
Heyward is scheduled to make $14.75 million this season, with $13.45… pic.twitter.com/Wh10LaWbXl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2025
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Heyward Is Still Getting It Done at the NFL Level
The former Ohio State product entered the NFL as the No. 31 overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
The 2025 season will be Heyward’s 15th season at this level. Heyward, 36, is much closer to the end of his football journey than the beginning.
However, like a fine wine, Heyward has improved with age. He is coming off a first-team All-Pro season, where he racked up eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 11 pass deflections, and 12 tackles for loss.
Across his career, Heyward has proven to be a disruptive force that is a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball. Every opposing offensive coordinator needs to know where Heyward lines up on a play-to-play basis because of his impact on the game.
Heyward has appeared in 211 games and has made 176 starts. During that stretch, he has totaled 88.5 sacks, 718 tackles, 133 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, two interceptions, and secured 199 quarterback hits.
Jets Have to Handle Their Own Business
The Jets have a better chance of winning this Week 1 contest if Heyward isn’t out there. That is true.
However, just because a team is missing a key cog doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to lose. Look no further than the season opener for the Jets in 2024.
On paper, the Jets got a gift from the football Gods when superstar running back Christian McCaffrey popped up as inactive on gameday for the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite that supposed advantage, some guy named Jordan Mason proceeded to run wild over the Jets’ defense. He finished with 28 rushing attempts for 147 rushing yards and a touchdown. Gang Green lost that game 32-19.
The Jets have enough of their own problems to worry about that they can’t be wasting precious time thinking about whether or not Heyward is going to suit up.
If he does, great. If he doesn’t, great. The Jets need to focus on their own business and look inward.
Details of Heyward vs. Steelers Contract Beef
In September of 2024, Heyward and the Steelers agreed to a two-year $29 million contract extension.
Now, less than a year later, Heyward is looking for a raise.
“I’m looking to be valued,” Heyward told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “… 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 the year I’ve had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
Heyward explained that despite signing an extension just last year, the team should have known this was coming.
“I signed a contract last year, but to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told him when I have an All-Pro year expecting me to come back and you can look at the contract and see what it was. But I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit, but in my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it,” Heyward told ESPN.