As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up to open their 2025 season against the New York Jets this Sunday afternoon, one of their most respected leaders faces a difficult decision. Defensive captain Cameron Heyward, a staple of the franchise since 2011, finds himself at a crossroads: play through contract frustrations or sit out and make a statement.
Money doesn’t grow on trees — even for a storied franchise like the Steelers.
And that’s never been truer than this past off-season, when general manager Omar Khan took a rare swing, making bold, uncharacteristic moves to inject top-tier talent into the locker room.