Steelers, Cam Heyward Agree to 4-Year Extension

The Steelers have re-signed defensive lineman Cameron Heyward to a long-term contract extension, the team announced on Sunday.

Heyward signed a new, five-year contract that includes a four-year extension worth a total of $71.4 million. The new deal will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2024. Heyward initially sparked speculation by tweeting a GIF to hint that he was staying in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is where I belong! pic.twitter.com/mMj3DbKm4T

— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 7, 2020

The Steelers’ first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Heyward has spent nine years with the team, and was entering the final year of his second contract with the club. He had been set to earn $9.5 million in 2020.

Heyward is a three-time Pro Bowl (2017-19) and a two-time first-team All-Pro (2017, 2019). He’s started all 16 games four times in his career.

In 2019, Heyward finished third on the team with nine quarterback sacks to give him 54 in his career. He was also third in tackles with 83 and tackles for a loss with 11, leading the Steelers defensive line in all three categories.

The Steelers do not generally negotiate contract extensions during the season, so Heyward’s extension narrowly prevented him from being able to test the free agent waters at the end of the 2020 season.