PITTSBURGH — One day after admitting he was not optimistic that the Steelers would rework his contract in any way, longtime captain Cam Heyward got something of a compromise thrown his way.

The Steelers are adding $3.2 million in incentives to his 2025 compensation, according to multiple national reports, but here’s the kicker: They’re not related to his individual performance and instead to team playoff success. According to the reports, Heyward can now make close to $18 million total this season.

That’s an odd concession for the front office to make, though not necessarily unreasonable. As Heyward dangled the possibility of sitting out games — perhaps even as soon as this season opener Sunday against the New York Jets — he insisted he’s willing to prove himself but didn’t have an opportunity to include incentives in his most recent deal signed last year.

This might be unprecedented for the Steelers when it comes to a non-quarterback. Heyward’s legacy is defined as much by his on-field and off-field accolades — including five All-Pro nods and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award — as it is the team’s lack of postseason success during his tenure.

Of course, no single player — particularly a defensive lineman — is solely responsible for wins or losses come playoff time. But Heyward’s stated goal of chasing a Super Bowl is at odds with his personal mission to be paid commensurate with his production.

It appears the Steelers aren't giving him an outright cash advance or guarantee — as they did for Antonio Brown in 2015 and 2016 — but they're at least soothing some of Heyward’s frustration amid what's become a protracted financial dispute, one that first popped up in the winter and became public last month. While he may not be thrilled with this result, he did agree on the eve of the Week 1 kickoff, and the timing could even become a small piece of Steeler lore if all goes well.

For the time being, this is an olive branch somewhere between the Steelers bending on their own unwritten rule to not adjust contracts with more than a year left and telling Heyward they can put their money where his mouth is. In an ideal world, he’ll wreck the line of scrimmage against his former teammate Justin Fields and the Jets, continue to play at a high level throughout this season and cash in for his efforts while everyone sings kumbaya en route to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Heyward, 36, had voiced his displeasure with his contract this summer and was “holding in” at multiple practices during training camp.

“Honestly, I’m looking to be valued,” Heyward said at Saint Vincent College. “In my eyes, when I look around at my position, I think I’m 22nd [in compensation] as a defensive tackle, I’m 32nd as a defensive lineman. I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field. It’s hard for me, after the year I had, to justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”

Heyward followed a tough 2023 season with his fourth first-team All-Pro selection in 2024. Heyward said he told the Steelers when he signed his contract that he would come back to them and ask for an adjustment if he made All-Pro.

The Steelers open the 2025 season 1 p.m. ET Sunday against the New York Jets. Given he has a new deal, Heyward is fully expected to play.

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