PITTSBURGH — Lower than 24 hours earlier than their season opener in opposition to the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive captain Cam Heyward agreed to a reworked contract that provides greater than $3 million in incentives to his deal this yr, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night time.
The deal permits Heyward, 36, to earn as much as $18 million in 2025, a rise from the $14.75 million he was initially due within the two-year contract extension he signed a yr in the past.
With the contract dispute resolved, Heyward will play Sunday in opposition to the Jets.
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The Steelers broke a number of crew precedents in remodeling Heyward’s deal, not solely in adjusting a contract two years earlier than its expiration, but additionally providing him incentives, one thing beforehand carried out just for their quarterbacks.
“Not quite a lot of gamers have gotten incentives over right here,” Heyward mentioned Friday. “Plenty of it’s stemmed from simply quarterbacks. There’s alternative ways to deal with the scenario. I am all for proving it. I am not working away from it. My profession has at all times been about proving it, and if it was that route, I might go for it, however obtained time, see what occurs.”
Based on OverTheCap.com, his contract’s earlier $14.5 million common annual worth ranks twenty third for inside defensive linemen. Heyward mentioned he instructed the Steelers he deliberate to revisit the contract after the 2024 season if he earned an All-Professional nod. Heyward then requested a reworked contract in February, following his fourth All-Professional season, by which he recorded eight sacks, 11 batted passes and 20 quarterback hits after an injury-shortened 2023 marketing campaign.
Heyward was a short hold-in late in coaching camp amid negotiation frustrations, however he returned to follow and took part in particular person and crew intervals starting Aug. 19.
Heyward was a full participant every day of follow this week, aside from his ordinary veteran’s time off Thursday. He wasn’t listed with a sport designation within the last damage report Friday.
“There’s loud voices, and everyone has an opinion, however I can not management that,” Heyward mentioned Friday. “If you know the way I work, you know the way I play. That is all that issues. I’ve to decide for my household. This can be a enterprise. I can not play this sport endlessly and identical to I am maximized on the sector, I need to be maximized outdoors of it. I do not need to be taken care of that method. It is not being grasping, it is simply the best way this sport is. It is not for lengthy, NFL. So, I might inform each man, maximize your alternatives and maintain going from there.”
