The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a busy start to the legal tampering period as the franchise has made moves to bring in some talent from the outside, but the team also took care of some of the guys who were already on the roster. Asante Samuel Jr. is returning on a new one-year deal, and now veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward is having his contract restructured to add a year to his current deal.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward sips on some water as he watches the defense practice during his hold-in at 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
There were some questions of whether or not Heyward would return for another season. It would be completely understandable if he decided to retire, although it can be argued that he is playing the best football of his career. Retirement seemed like a real possibility after former head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down from his role, but the Steelers restructuring the leader's contract seems to confirm his return for the 2026 season.
SOURCES: The Steelers have added a year to DE Cam Heyward’s contract, creating nearly $5.5 million in cap space. His new deal is worth $32.25 million over two years with the first year guaranteed.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2026
Heyward was originally going to be going into the final season of his contract, and retirement was a possibility. Now, he has an extra year added to his deal, while freeing up some cap space for the team going into the 2026 season.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward (97) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Hopefully this keeps the Steelers from having any sort of contract drama with Heyward once training camp rolls around, as that has been a story of the past two offseasons. This is great news for Pittsburgh as the defensive line would be taking a serious hit without Heyward on the field. The Steelers are now just awaiting a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether or not he will want to continue his playing career.
An interesting part of this move is that it will free up $5.5 million in cap space for Pittsburgh in 2026, which gives the organization some more flexibility to make a move during free agency. This should allow the franchise to bolster the roster even more, either by signing a player or by trading for somebody that may be on the market.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
Heyward is still probably worth more than he is being paid, which could create some issues down the line, but for now, it is good news that he will be on the field in 2026. He has put up back to back All-Pro campaigns, and he will be going for a third once the season begins.
What do you think of this news involving Heyward? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation