All-Pro DT Skips Monday Practice, Pushes for New Steelers Deal After Feeling ‘Undervalued'
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PITTSBURGH, PA — August 2025 — All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward addressed the media on Monday about his ongoing contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, shortly after skipping the day’s training camp practice.

Heyward, 36, is entering the season with a scheduled salary of $14.75 million. However, the veteran believes his current deal no longer reflects his value in today’s defensive linemen market.
"Honestly, I'm looking to be valued. In my eyes, when I look around at my position, I think I'm like 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. It’s hard for me, after the year I've had, to justify playing at the number I'm playing at," Heyward said.

Heyward acknowledged he signed his current contract last year but revealed that even then, he was clear about seeking adjustments if he reached elite performance levels.
"When I signed that, 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, but I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit. In my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it."

The Steelers now face a critical decision: either negotiate a new deal with their defensive leader or risk tension heading into the regular season. Heyward’s resume — leadership, locker room presence, and consistent on-field dominance — makes the standoff a high-stakes storyline for Pittsburgh’s 2025 campaign.
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