Steelers DL Cam Heyward fires back at fans who want him to retire

Cam Heyward has no patience for the haters who want him to retire.

2023 was a forgettable season for Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward. An injury-riddled season forced Heyward to play basically on one leg but Heyward never gave up. Heyward posted this offseason that he underwent successful surgery and was looking forward to playing on two legs in 2024.

But this hasn’t stopped critics from calling for Heyward to retire. This comes from a combination of factors including his injury as well as his $22 million cap hit in 2024 on the final year of his current contract.

Heyward didn’t appreciate the armchair GMs and their hate for him after everything he has given this team and fired a shot at those cynical fans who want to see him gone.

As far as we are concerned, Heyward can play for the Steelers as long as he likes and we will support him no matter what. He’s the Ben Roethlisberger of the defensive side of the ball and has earned that level of respect. We can’t wait to see a healthy Heyward back on the field this season.

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Steelers DT Cam Heyward posts Instagram update following surgery

Cam Heyward posted to IG following Monday’s surgery.

Cam Heyward is in the process of getting back to being Cam Heyward following an unspecified surgery on Monday.

The three-time first-team All-Pro posted in his Instagram story, “Surgery done finally!!! Ready to get back to feeling good!”

Heyward initially suffered a groin injury on the first day of training camp, and just 14 snaps into the season-opening loss to the San Fransisco 49ers tore the groin completely off the bone.

He was given a 12-week recovery time after surgery but returned in half the time — far too soon. He was a shell of his usual productive self managing some of the worst stats of his career. His two sacks were the fewest since becoming a starter a decade ago.

All of this, combined with the arduous process of just getting himself ready for game day, led to Heyward considering retirement at the most serious rate he ever had.

“It’s been a rough season,” Heyward said following the postseason loss to the Bills. “In my heart, I want to play, but you know, it’s been rough.”

But it wasn’t long until Heyward decided he still had more in the tank, and he was not ready to retire just yet.

Heyward is only one season removed from 10.5 sacks, so it’s not impossible to think he can still make an impact.

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Steelers DT Cameron Heyward has cross-state admirer in Super Bowl champion

Someone in midnight green would like a chance to play with Cam Heyward before he retires.

Fletcher Cox has taken the field with plenty of high-level talent in his 12-year career, but there’s still someone he’d like to suit up with before he calls it quits.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle was a guest with Cameron Heyward on the Feb. 8 episode of the “Not Just Football” podcast and was asked who he’d most like to play with in the NFL.

“You,” Cox replied.

Heyward, recently named the Walter Payton Man of the Year, is still highly regarded as one of the most dominant players at his position heading into his 13th season.

“That’s all love,” Cox said. “Just respect that you got for the game, respect that I have for the game. The way that you play the game, the way that I play the game, like we definitely could. That would’ve been nice.”

Heyward agreed: “We could make some things happen.”

It could happen. The Steelers love themselves some old, seasoned vets, and, at 33, Cox is about as old and seasoned as they get.

He’s a pending unrestricted free agent who isn’t expected to be back with the Eagles, coming off a one-year deal he signed last March. Unfortunately, Over the Cap projects Cox’s market value at $10 million, something Pittsburgh isn’t likely to shell out with the younger Larry Ogunjobi under contract through 2025.

Who even knows what they’ll do with Heyward, the second-highest-paid player on the roster after T.J. Watt? Heyward will turn 35 in May and is set to earn a $16 million base salary in 2024, or 9.2 percent of the salary cap. A restructuring is likely, but Heyward has already stated he’s not taking a pay cut.

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Steelers DT Cam Heyward faces hurdle in displaying WPMOY honor

The Steelers might want to bend the rules a little bit for Cam Heyward.

The Pittsburgh Steelers is a truly old-school franchise that errs on the conservative side when it comes to “what everyone else is doing.” They don’t officially retire jerseys, captains are in title only and you won’t typically find special patches on player jerseys.

So when it comes to Cam Heyward displaying the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch on his jersey, he may have to work through some red tape.

Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Heyward said on Friday’s conference call with media members that he’s “gotta have a talk” with the higher-ups about getting the WPMOY patch on his jersey.

The Steelers rightfully nominate Heyward year after year (for the past six) for this distinguished award. Now that he’s finally won it, it’s time to bend the conservative rules a tad so that Heyward can proudly wear the patch in what is likely to be one of his final seasons in the NFL.

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T.J. Watt, Mike Tomlin shout-out Cam Heyward for winning Walter Payton Man of the Year

Congratulations to Cam Heyward on his well-deserved honor!

For six of Cam Heyward’s 13 years in the NFL, he’s been nominated to represent the Pittsburgh Steelers in the quest for the league’s highest honor, the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

This year he finally did it! His head coach, teammates and family each took to social media to congratulate Heyward on the achievement.

Steelers DT Cam Heyward receives NFL’s highest honor: Walter Payton Man of the Year

Cam Heyward wins the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

It was five years coming, but the media finally got it right when they voted Cam Heyward the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year.

This was Heyward’s sixth time being nominated to represent the Pittsburgh Steelers in his 13-year career. The award, considered the league’s highest honor, recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service.

And Heyward’s service to the Pittsburgh community is vast. His efforts are primarily inspired by his father, former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. Cam was just 16 when his father died of brain cancer at age 39.

Perhaps the most significant endeavor is Heyward’s foundation, The Heyward House, which was launched in 2015. Its causes include combatting childhood hunger, fighting cancer, aiding childhood literacy and supporting students and teachers.

“Ever since I’ve been a Pittsburgh Steeler, I’ve always thought god and my dad had a plan for me, and I’m living it right now,” Heyward said during his acceptance speech on Thursday night. “I want to say thank you to the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity.”

“When I talk about my dad, he wore No. 34, and he’s been with me the entire time, he’s been with me every step of the way,” he said. “But I know there was another 34 that was helping me, this man Walter Payton. He’s done so much on and off the field, and he’s changed so many lives, that now I have the opportunity to be part of such a great fraternity in the Walter Payton finalists and winners.

“I know I can carry this on and take the rock. I can’t run as fast as Walter, and I won’t try, but I’ll make sure I do my part. I want to give a big shout out to every nominee, every winner here today. There’s no act too small, there’s no act too big, we are all trying to make a difference in so many people’s lives.”

Heyward knows his work doesn’t end with the honor he’s received.

“I continue to keep doing the work, as I will. This award is great, and I appreciate it, but I understand I’ve got more work to do. I’ve got to make sure I represent this man every day going forward. And so I ask you guys, my brothers, keep doing the work, keep being the positive role models you are. I know it’s not always pretty, I know a lot of people like to talk about the other stuff, but you guys are the change, you guys are making a difference, and I’m just thankful for that.”

Each of the 32 nominees was awarded a $40,000 donation for the charity of their choice, but for his abundant efforts and earning the title NFL Man of the Year, Heyward will receive a $250,000 donation in his name.

Heyward is the fifth Steeler to have been voted NFL Man of the Year, joining Franco Harris (1976), Joe Greene (1979), Lynn Swann (1981) and Jerome Bettis (2002) — each with a bust in the Hall of Fame.

Perhaps that’s Heyward’s next step.

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Cam Heyward sounds off on Le’Veon Bell’s latest proclamation to return to Steelers

Cam Heyward offers his take on Le’Veon Bell’s most recent announcement that he’d like to return to the Steelers.

In a recent series of SnapChats, Le’Veon Bell shared his desire to return to the NFL. Though he purposely didn’t name the team, we all know it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This wasn’t the first time Bell has expressed his intention to return to Pittsburgh and it won’t be his last.

“He was a guest on our show and he already said that,” Cam Heyward said on the Feb. 5 episode of his “Not Just Football” podcast. “I don’t know why we are acting like this is brand-new news. Le’Veon said he wanted to come back for one team and one team only. If you need to, go listen to our show and we will give you the info because we got people that are getting this done before it even hits.”

Heyward is all for a Le’Veon Bell return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, even if it were for a depth and mentorship role for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

“If he comes back, we would love to have him,” he said. “He looked like he was in great shape the last time we saw him. I know we got some great running backs, but he could provide some knowledge for the group.”

But as a veteran and defensive captain, Heyward doesn’t play favorites with any player who wants to come to Pittsburgh.

“I welcome anybody. I don’t really play the game where … if anybody can be my teammate, I’m always for it because as lucky as I am to be their teammate, I’m very lucky for them to be my teammate. It’s an honor playing this game and when you get great players playing with you, it’s special to see.”

If the improbable happened, it’s unlikely Bell would be special this time around. But it certainly was special when he spent the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh.

Bell accumulated 5,336 rushing yards, 2,660 receiving yards and 42 all-purpose touchdowns in the Black and Gold. He last suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 and played for four teams after his messy and very public 2018 exit from Pittsburgh. Though he played as many years for other teams as he did in Pittsburgh, Bell never came anywhere near the production.

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Steelers DT Cam Heyward blasts Josh Allen’s ‘load of crap’ trickery

Cam Heyward is fed up with QBs deceiving defenses.

Josh Allen pulled some shady stuff in the Buffalo Bills wild card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. And good for him for getting away with it.

But Cam Heyward thinks if it continues, it’ll ruin football.

Not Just Football” co-host Hayden Walsh pressed Heyward about whether Allen’s play midway through the second quarter included a fake slide.

Heyward was careful about his words, likely because it wasn’t a fake slide in the true sense of the term. It was more of a hesitation and redirect to slow the defense down, or a deke, something Allen is known for doing — much to opponents’ dismay.

“You definitely see him slow down to alert [the defender] that he was gonna slide, but I don’t know what you’re supposed to do as a defender,” Heyward said when asked if there was a fake slide by Allen. “That happens, and then look at the ramifications of it, because then Myles Jack takes it in his hands, and he’s like, I have to go for him because he’s not giving himself up all the time.”

Jack, helped by a little Academy Award performance by Allen and some poor officiating, was flagged for roughing the passer — leading to a touchdown that was essentially the nail in Pittsburgh’s coffin.

Heyward didn’t name names, but quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes have made famous the I’m-going-out-of-bounds-psych.

“We look to protect quarterbacks, but, man, you’re taking away from the game when you do that,” he said. “You get these quarterbacks that act like they’re going out of bounds, but then they skirt up the sideline, and they add more yards, but it’s like, man, as a quarterback, you should be trying to get down as soon as possible. If a quarterback turns on the gears and is running full tilt, he shouldn’t be given the clearance to just make a decision right then and there to either trick the ref or trick the team. I think it’s a load of crap.”

The refs did seem to favor the home team Bills, but that never seems to matter in the end because the final score is the final score, no matter how they call it.

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Steelers DT Cameron Heyward faces uncertain future in Pittsburgh

2024 is the final year of Cam Heyward’s contract, which carries a base salary of $16 million.

Cameron Heyward has been pondering retirement for a while now. It’s just that point in his career. He turns 35 this spring and has had 13 (mostly) wildly successful seasons. There’s no question he could retire with his head held high.

But in the meantime, Heyward is owed a hefty salary in 2024 — to the tune of $16 million. With a $6.40 million bonus, the $22.40 million cap hit is 9.2% of Pittsburgh’s total cap space. He’s the second-highest-paid player after T.J. Watt.

Mark Kaboly, Steelers insider for The Athletic, thinks Heyward will get a contract extension.

“I can see him being extended before I can see him being released,” he wrote in a recent mailbag. “I admit, he’s struggled this year, but a lot of that has to do with his injury and subsequent recovery from surgery.”

“Heyward loves this game too much to quit now, and no way in hell are the Steelers cutting a player who has meant so much to them over the years. [Owner Art] Rooney would rather eat that salary than cut him.”

But ask Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu if they “meant so much” to the Steelers at the end of their careers and wanted to continue playing. If they don’t extend him, they could force him to retire like they did Ward and Polamalu.

Like Ward and Polamalu, it’s tough to imagine Heyward putting on any other jersey but the Black and Gold. If they were to approach him about being released, it seems he’d much rather call it a career.

Heyward is only one season removed from 10.5 sacks, so it’s not impossible to think if he returns in 2024, he could still make an impact.

Until his future is decided, Heyward and the Pittsburgh Steelers have only one focus: Beat the Buffalo Bills.

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Steelers DT Cam Heyward clears concussion protocol ahead of Bengals matchup

The Steelers announced this morning that Cam Heyward has cleared concussion protocol.

As the Pittsburgh Steelers fight the Cincinnati Bengals for their playoff lives on Saturday, defensive tackle Cam Heyward will be in the lineup. Steelers Senior Director of Communications Burt Lauten announced this morning that he’s cleared concussion protocol.

Heyward, who totaled five tackles, including a tackle for loss, suffered a concussion in Pittsburgh’s Week 15 loss to the Colts, though it’s not clear when as he did not leave the game. He was not reported with an injury during the game. Mike Tomlin didn’t say anything about the head injury until his press conference on Monday, so he likely didn’t experience symptoms until later. He was limited in practice on Tuesday but was a full participant yesterday.

Since returning from injured reserve with a groin injury in Week 9, Heyward’s been relatively quiet. He’s recorded two sacks, 30 tackles (six for loss) and three quarterback hits.