Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward caused some friction this offseason when he called out Aaron Rodgers for his delayed decision on signing with the Steelers. The four-time NFL MVP quarterback took nearly three months to sign with the Steelers.
“Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t. It’s that simple. That’s the pitch,” Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast in late March.
Heyward had Rodgers on his Not Just Football podcast at training camp and cleared the air on his offseason comment.
“I have to apologize. I guess my words were taken out of context when I said, ‘Do you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or not?’ How did you feel about that?” Heyward asked Rodgers.
“I was hurt. You didn’t reach out. You just wanted to make a statement in the media. You had a preconceived notion of who I was, obviously,” Rodgers said jokingly. “And how has that changed over the last few months?”
Heyward responded, “It’s been good I would say. You came to my cookout. You came to my golf outing. I appreciate that.”
Heyward also admitted that he had a preconceived notion on Rodgers.
Ironically, Heyward is currently holding-in due to a contract dispute with the Steelers.
Heyward said he’s willing to miss games in the 2025 season, if that’s what it takes to get the contract modification he’s seeking from the team.
Heyward, speaking to the media at St. Vincent College on Aug. 11 for the first time since his hold-in was reported, said that he told the team last year when he took a team-friendly offer that he would be back asking for more money if he had another All-Pro season.
Heyward did just that, earning his fourth All-Pro nod at the age of 35 last year, and said that he first approached the Steelers back in February about adjusting his contract.
“I’m looking for my contract to be addressed,” he said. “Honestly, I’m looking to be valued. … I know what I bring to this team, what I’m capable of on and off the field. It’s hard for me, after the year I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
Heyward signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension with the team last year that paid him a $14.7 million signing bonus, but guaranteed only that and his 2024 salary, which was $1.3 million.
He was paid a $13.45 million roster bonus this March, but is owed only another $1.3 million this season for a total of $14.75 million in cash over 2025. He is also scheduled to earn a $12.95 million roster bonus in 2026, with a $1.3 million base salary.
At training camp, Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott also cleared the air on his “leave his ass at the retirement home” Instagram comment about Rodgers this offseason. He said he was just trolling, and he issued an apology to Rodgers when they first met.
“I’m a (social media) troll,” Elliott...
