Steelers' Cam Heyward Speaks Out On Backlash: "Everybody Says I Got That Dude Traded"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been active in the 2026 NFL offseason thus far. The team has made a trade for Michael Pittman Jr. to sure up their receiver core and has made impact signings like Rico Dowdle and Jamel Dean. The Steelers were relatively active last offseason too, as they made a huge trade sending Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey. This trade completely shook up the Steelers' roster and was a huge surprise to many players and fans alike. 

The trade has had a lasting impact on the Steelers, as now their safety depth is lacking. They only have DeShon Elliott as a full-time safety and Ramsey as a floater, as his true role is not yet known for this year. The Steelers have been speculated to take a safety in the beginning rounds of this year's NFL Draft. The previous trade also saw Smith as a return piece to connect with former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Jonnu Smith was unproductive as a Steeler and was just recently cut by the team. 

Ramsey was a huge piece of the Steelers' defense last season. He showed his versatility as a defensive back, playing both outside and inside cornerback, and even transitioning to safety. While the Steelers moved on from Fitzpatrick's contract, his ability to be a solid ball-hawking safety and his brilliant football mind were missed on the defense. Fitzpatrick was a staple of the unit ever since Pittsburgh traded for him in 2019. 

Fitzpatrick's trade last offseason took many by surprise, and that included the likes of Steelers star defender and captain, Cam Heyward. However, some fans speculated that Heyward could have been a reason the deal occurred. On his Not Just Football podcast, Heyward addressed these rumors. 

"Everybody says that I got that dude traded. I've been such a fan of Minkah's this entire time. Don't ever think I didn't want that dude here," Heyward explained. "I saw somebody say that just recently. I was like, 'Are you kidding me?' Like I was shocked as anyone. They take the stuff on the sideline as the reason why this happened. Just because you have an argument on the sideline doesn't mean anything of how we act or view each other."

There was speculation from fans that Heyward and Fitzpatrick had a negative relationship after they were seen arguing with one another on the sidelines. The two are both elite at their craft and are players who play with a lot of emotion. Heyward denied the narrative that he "got Fitzpatrick traded" and had a lot of positive things to say about the former All-Pro safety. 

Heyward recalled his time with Fitzpatrick and his reaction to the news that his former teammate was traded back to South Beach. 

"The way it came out, I thought we were bringing Jalen [Ramsey] in for just a pick, and I was like, 'Oh yeah, h**l yeah. I love this,'" Heyward said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. "And then I found out it's a trade with Minkah, and I'm like, 'D**n, you're taking away a guy that has really meant a lot to our group.' So I was a little bit bummed about it," Heyward said in 2025. 

Heyward understood how vital Fitzpatrick was to the defense and was clearly bittersweet when hearing about Fitzpatrick's trade. 

Steelers May Regret Trading Fitzpatrick

The Steelers have felt the effects of trading the All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety. The team is still searching for a running mate to pair with Elliott effectively. The Steelers have Ramsey now, but it seems like it was almost Fitzpatrick for Ramsey, looking back at it, now that Jonnu Smith is gone. Pittsburgh will hope to replicate a safety of Fitzpatrick's value, either through a signing or a top draft pick. The Steelers just signed safety Darnell Savage, but he will more than likely be a depth piece. The Steelers will certainly look to fill a hole at safety this offseason. 

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