Cameron Heyward continues to seek an extension before beginning the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The star defensive tackle reiterated his desire to stay beyond 2024.
Heyward didn’t provide an update on his negotiations when speaking to Jim Rome on Wednesday. However, the 35-year-old said he wants to play his entire NFL career with the same organization.
“I don’t want to say how likely something is ‘cause you just never know,” Heyward said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “Obviously, I would love to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for the rest of my career, and getting a contract would lay claim to that. My goal is to be a Pittsburgh Steeler this year and have a good year to hopefully come back and play more games with them.”
While he’d prefer to stay in Pittsburgh, Heyward is prepared to play elsewhere in 2025. However, he’s not sure he could stomach joining a division rival.
Heyward previously brought up that his wife is from Cleveland, but he’s uneasy about playing for a foe with so much “bad blood.” He joked that even his wife ruled out the possibility of playing for the Browns.
Following six straight Pro Bowl seasons, Heyward missed six games last year due to a groin injury. He tallied his fewest tackles (33) and sacks (two) since 2012.
Heyward told Rome he’s “pretty close to 100 percent” with “no limitations” this summer. He’s preparing for a bounce-back season regardless of his contract status.
“I’m just excited. We have a great team returning and a lot of new parts, but I understand I got to play my best,” Heyward said. “Looking forward to doing it. I should be playing at a high level this year.”
Related: Steelers Star Cameron Heyward Reveals How Much Longer He’ll Play In NFL