Steelers add $3 million in incentives to Cam Heyward’s deal hours before season opener
Veteran defensive tackle agrees new terms and will play Sunday as Aaron Rodgers prepares for his first start with Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers and veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward agreed to new terms Saturday night that add up to $3 million in incentives and ensure Heyward will be available for the team's season opener Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Heyward, 36, had publicly sought additional compensation in recent days and the standoff threatened to overlap with the start of the 2025 NFL season. The newly announced arrangement ties the additional payments to postseason performance, specifically reaching the playoffs and winning in the postseason, and keeps the long-time starter in the lineup for Pittsburgh’s game against the New York Jets.
The deal was finalized hours before kickoff, removing uncertainty about Heyward’s availability. Team officials did not disclose full contract details beyond the added incentives. Heyward’s acceptance of the revised terms preserves continuity on the Steelers’ defensive front as Pittsburgh opens a season that also features quarterback Aaron Rodgers making his first start for the franchise.
Rodgers is slated to start at MetLife, the same venue where his final two seasons with the New York Jets culminated in his release. The Jets moved on from Rodgers when new head coach Aaron Glenn opted to begin a rebuild with a younger quarterback, clearing the way for Rodgers to join Pittsburgh this offseason.
Heyward has been a fixture on the Steelers’ defensive line since being drafted by the team. His new deal keeps an experienced presence in a unit the team has identified as a cornerstone of its roster construction. The incentive structure—focused on playoff appearance and postseason victories—links part of the veteran’s pay to team success rather than guaranteed salary alone.
The timing of the agreement will allow Heyward to travel with the team and participate in game preparations on short notice. Coaches and teammates have emphasized the value of veteran leadership at the defensive tackle position, and the finalized deal allows the Steelers to field one of their most recognizable defensive players as they face a Jets team that has undergone recent changes.
Sunday’s matchup will carry multiple storylines beyond the scoreboard: Heyward’s contract resolution, Rodgers’ first start in Pittsburgh, and how both teams respond to roster changes made in the offseason. The result will offer an early read on whether the contract adjustments and personnel moves position the Steelers for contention in the 2025 campaign.