Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward agrees to 1-year extension with Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward agreed to a one-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday as the team transitions to new head coach Mike McCarthy.

The 36-year-old Heyward, a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and the 2023 Walter Payton Award winner as the NFL’s Man of the Year, is coming off a solid 2025 in which he finished with 78 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. He had one season left on the contract extension he signed in 2024.

A second team All-Pro last season, Heyward’s 92 sacks rank second on Pittsburgh’s career list behind teammate T.J. Watt.

The extension frees up a little bit of salary cap space this season for the Steelers, who have added several players to both sides of the ball this week as the new league year began.

Pittsburgh traded for Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay defensive back Jamel Dean, former Carolina running back Rico Dowdle and safety Darnell Savage.

The club also brought back punter Cameron Johnston, whom they signed in 2024 before cutting him at the end of training camp last year. Johnston missed the vast majority of 2024 with a leg injury.

The Steelers also re-signed veteran inside linebacker Cole Holcomb to a two-year deal. Holcomb has spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh, though he missed half of the 2023 season and all of the 2024 season while recovering from a devastating knee injury. Holcomb returned to play last year, making 37 tackles and forcing a fumble in 14 games.

Pittsburgh’s moves so far have not included adding a quarterback. The door is open for Aaron Rodgers to return, but the four-time NFL MVP has not decided whether to come back for a 22nd season after helping lead the Steelers to the AFC North title last fall.

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