Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward got some incentives added to his contract for the 2025 season, but they may have come at a significant cost.
Heyward, who participated in an abbreviated hold-in during training camp while seeking additional compensation on his contract with the team, got $3.2 million in possible incentives added to his year's potential earnings, but also had to give something significant back in 2026.
The details of Heyward's incentives were reported on Wednesday by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Heyward can earn $1.6 million if he records at least eight sacks and the Steelers make the playoffs, and another $1.6 million if he records at least 11.5 sacks and the Steelers win a playoff game.
Heyward had eight sacks last season, one of six times in his career that he's hit that mark. He's had 11.5 sacks just once in his career, way back in 2017, when he had 12. The Steelers have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, but have won a playoff game in just two of Heyward's 14 previous seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward during a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The first $1.6 million will be considered likely to be earned and will be added to Heyward's salary cap hit for the 2025 season, while the second $1.6 million be added to the team's rolls in 2026 if he earns it this year.
Heyward downplayed the deal after the game on Sunday , calling it "nothing special," and declining to answer further questions about it until later this week.
Most of that was known when Heyward's deal with the Steelers was first reported on Saturday. But what Heyward had to give up to get those incentives was not reported at first.
If Heyward doesn't participate in at least 30% of the team's snaps this season, his roster bonus that is due in March of 2026 will be reduced from $12.95 million to $875,000.
Heyward has never dropped below 30% of the team's snaps since first becoming a starter in his third season in 2013, but any significant injury could put over $12 million of his future salary on ice. Heyward is only scheduled to earn $14.7 million next season. The reduced bonus would leave his 2026 compensation at $2.2 million.
That's a pretty significant potential cost for a pretty minor benefit in terms of the incentives the Steelers give Heyward. Considering that it also came while enraging significant portions of the fanbase, the potential reward hardly seems worth it.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Cam Heyward Paid Heavy Price for Contract Incentives
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