PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward confirmed to Steelers Now a few weeks ago that he wants to play three more seasons in the NFL. He reiterated that point on Tuesday after not been around the team for the first two weeks of OTAs, a decision he made to help boost his odds of a contract extension.
Heyward, 35, still believes he’s one of the best in the game. He just wants to be valued at a proper rate for his worth.
“I’m looking to be here,” Heyward said. “The value is what we decide, but I want to be valued at my position. I understand I came off a rough season, but I don’t think it’s a step down from where I can play. I think I’m at the top of my game. I’m still a top five player at my position.”
Heyward’s 2023 season was hindered by a nagging groin injury. Outside of the 2016 season, it was the only year where he missed a series of games. Overall, he’s been pretty durable throughout his career.
It’s rare that defensive lineman dominated late into their 30s, but Heyward believes he’s built different.
“There’s not a lot of history behind it, but for me, I look at it as I’m not looking to be like anybody else,” Heyward said. “My game is different from everybody else in this league, I like to think. I can play the run and the pass, and that’s where I’m different. But we’ll see what happens. There’s not a lot of history, but I’m here to make history, and I’m here to win another Super Bowl here and have a great season.”
If the Steelers decline an extension for Heyward, he will become a free agent in 2025. He wants to be a “one-helmet guy” but playing for another team isn’t off the table. A Super Bowl ring is something that Heyward covets.
“There’s certain guys that are one-helmet guys, and I want to be one of those one helmet guys,” Heyward said. “There’s a hunger and desire there, but that doesn’t mean just hanging it up and calling it a career. To me, I think I got more bullets to fire, and I’m excited to do that.”
Alan Saunders and Nick Farabaugh contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.