Cam Heyward has been the heart of the Steelers ’ defense for 14 seasons, a leader teammates rely on and opponents fear. With 718 tackles and nearly 90 sacks, he’s long been Pittsburgh’s go-to force. In 2021, at age 32, he posted 89 tackles and 10 sacks, numbers linemen half his age struggle to match. Now 36, he remains a force on the line, driven by the same edge he had in 2011. For this legacy, he wanted to be rewarded, and he will be, though under certain conditions.

This summer, Heyward nearly walked. Frustrated with the front office, he skipped practices and hinted at sitting out, putting the Steelers at risk of starting the season without their defensive leader. At the last moment, Ian Rapoport reported the team added over $3 million in playoff incentives, raising his 2025 max pa

See Full Page