NFL teams usually don’t give lengthy deals to players on the wrong back of their 30ties unless they are quarterbacks. However, that didn’t stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from signing 35-year-old defensive tackle Cam Heyward to a new three-year contract.
Heyward previously had one year left on his deal that was set to pay him $16 million in 2024. Now, he will remain with the Steelers for two more years, through 2026, and get a chance to retire as a “one-helmet guy” while being handsomely rewarded in the process.
According to reports, Heyward’s new deal is worth $45 million and comes with a $15 million signing bonus and $16 million in guarantees.
“The goal is on the season, and that was just a piece of the puzzle, and now I have to put that to bed. I am excited to just worry about football, excited to just play good football,” said Heyward after the news became public.
Cam Heyward has been a standout performer for the Steelers ever since he was selected with the first overall pick in 2011. Over the course of his time with the franchise, he racked up 647 tackles and 80.5 sacks while making three First-team All-Pro selections and receiving six Pro Bowl nods.
However, Heyward’s production took a hit last season as he dealt with injuries and was limited to just 11 games. He finished the campaign with 33 tackles, his lowest since 2016, when he only played seven games, and 2.0 sacks, the fewest since his sophomore year as a pro.
