Cam Heyward has been a standout defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers for several seasons, but his time in the Black and Gold may be drawing near.
He is about to start the final season of the four-year, $65 million contract he signed in 2020.
Without an extension, Heyward will become an unrestricted free agent in 2025, and he is certainly keeping his options open.
Heyward told The Athletic that, without a contract extension, he would strongly consider leaving the Steelers and hinted that he might take his considerable skills to Cleveland and play for the Browns.
“I still have family in Cleveland … my wife is from Cleveland,” Heyward said.
He explained that he’d discussed the situation of his career winding down with his wife, and she agreed that it could be fun to suit up for another NFL team.
And Heyward took his explanation one step further, noting that his wife is from Cleveland and he has family there.
While he quickly added that he is not focused on the possibility of leaving Pittsburgh and choosing a destination at the moment, this statement certainly opened the door for speculation that he could leave town and take up residence with the Steelers’ rival.
After all, Heyward did not participate in much of the team’s offseason program as he sought an extension.
Heyward made it clear that packing his bags and heading to Ohio were not his first choices.
He referred to players who get to wear only one helmet during their NFL careers and said he would like to finish his playing days as one of them.
But the 35-year-old knows the league is a business, and that decision may be made for him.
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