Cam Heyward steps in as T.J. Watt contract drama builds

With training camp just days away, the Pittsburgh Steelers still haven’t resolved their contract standoff with linebacker T.J. Watt. Now, team legend Cam Heyward has stepped in to publicly back his teammate.

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Heyward addressed Watt’s ongoing contract dispute with the Steelers. The longtime Pittsburgh defensive lineman made it clear: Watt deserves to be paid what he’s worth, and that means top-tier money – on par with the highest-paid defenders in the NFL.

“We’ve talked, but not about contracts,” Heyward said. “He’s my brother and I want him to get what he deserves. He’s one of the fiercest, best players out there and he’s respected across the league. I hope this isn’t our last year playing together. We’ve caused a lot of trouble for offenses as a duo and I want him to stay a Steeler – a one-team guy.”

Heyward also stressed that trading away a defender of Watt’s caliber – the man who wears the #90 jersey – wouldn’t benefit the team in any way. He even said he’d be willing to personally speak with general manager Omar Khan to convince the front office to keep Watt in black and gold.

A product of the University of Wisconsin, Watt is on track to hit free agency after the 2025 NFL season unless a new deal is reached. So far in his career, he’s played in 121 games and has been selected to the NFL’s First-Team All-Pro four times.

Could history repeat itself in Pittsburgh?

This contract standoff echoes the drama of 2021, when the Steelers and Watt faced a similar situation. Back then, the impasse dragged on until September 9 – just three days before the regular season opener – when Watt finally signed a four-year, $112 million extension.

That deal made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history at the time, with an average annual salary of $28 million. Now, the problem is that to reclaim that title, Watt would need to top $40 million per year. According to Spotrac, factoring in his age and production, his market value currently sits around $36.6 million per season.

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