The Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that is known for their stability historically, will be searching for a more stable roster construction in 2026. There has been a lot of turnover in recent years roster-wise, but now, almost the entire coaching staff is brand new to the team. The most consistent thing about the franchise as of late, outside of Art Rooney II being the owner is how it has won 9-10 games while failing to win a playoff game. The fans are getting very angry, and improvements definitely need to be made to get them back on board with the vision.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy signs his contract at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
One of the more stable pieces of the team, defensive tackle and captain Cameron Heyward, has raised a couple questions about his future. While making an appearance on Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show, insider Gerry Dulac explained the most likely situation to happen in the 2026 offseason with the soon-to-be 37-year-old.
"I have gotten no indication that [Cameron] Heyward doesn't want to come back," Dulac said. "He has a year left [on his contract], and not only does he want to come back... I would assume that he'll come back and then ask for a contract extension, and then it will get real interesting to see what goes on. That's what I expect to happen with Cam Heyward."
Heyward has made headlines in the previous two seasons, as he held out to get more money each time. In 2024, he returned quickly as the two sides worked on a deal. In 2025, however, he missed many days in training camp and all of preseason as he fought to get more money, even though he only received some extra incentives to his deal. As Dulac said, he has one year left on his current contract, and that could lead to a sticky situation.
Nick Smith / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers.
Heyward previously said that he would likely retire when this contract expires after the 2026 season. However, being a 2024 First Team All-Pro and a 2025 Second Team All-Pro may change his mind on how long he wants to play. He is not getting the stats that he had before, but he is still making a strong impact with his relentless motor and gap control on his side of the line.
As the previous two years showed, contract disputes between the Steelers and Heyward do not go quietly. If Dulac's report is right, Heyward will most likely holdout until he puts pen to paper on an extension, even if it's just for one more year for a solid signing bonus and the same amount of average annual value (AAV). If that ends up happening, it could go on until the start of the regular season again.
Steelers Will Need Heyward Around For Offseason Program
With all the draft picks that the Steelers have, as well as all the veterans that are expected to leave in the offseason (and with the new coaching staff), Heyward needs to be there to help show everyone what it means to be a Steeler. Mike Tomlin is not there to explain to everyone, and TJ Watt is not exactly a vocal leader. Having the primary defensive captain around will be huge for team development and chemistry.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Cam Heyward and TJ Watt run while getting warmed up for practice.
Even though history and age say that Heyward will have a steep decline, his own history and body say otherwise. He was still performing at a very high level at age 36, and he keeps defying Father Time. There may be a slight decline in his play, but he has still earned another contract if he wants it. Even if he drops from great to solid, his leadership will help make up for it as he helps show the defense how to be a Steeler.
What do you think about Heyward's probable holdout coming up soon? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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