Back in March 2025, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward
generated headlines when he said that his “pitch” to then-unsigned quarterback Aaron Rodgers was: “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t. It’s that simple.”
A similar scenario is playing out this spring, as Rodgers has yet to publicly confirm his intentions for the 2026 NFL season. During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Heyward shared a different motto regarding his message to Rodgers.
Cameron Heyward has one Aaron Rodgers wish for the 2026 season
“He’s worn the black and gold,” Heyward said about Rodgers, per Bobby Kownack of the NFL’s website. “Just return, baby! That’s all we need. I think he had a fun time being a part of this crew, and we really enjoyed his company. I’d like to be able to run it back.”
Heyward became one of the many Pittsburgh players who eventually embraced having Rodgers as a teammate last season after the 42-year-old signed with the club in June. This past January, Heyward made it known that he wanted Rodgers to run it back with the Steelers for one more campaign.
Individuals within the organization reportedly remain confident that Rodgers will sign another one-year contract with the club at some point. However, Heyward didn’t sound all that certain that Rodgers will announce a decision before the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh this coming Thursday night. Steelers president Art Rooney II previously said he expected a final answer from Rodgers before the player-selection process.
Why Cameron Heyward wants Aaron Rodgers to return to the Steelers
“I don’t know,” Heyward responded when asked about a potential date for the long-awaited Rodgers-related news. “But I think everybody is all in on him. For what we got to see this season, we were pleasantly surprised how great he was coming off of being on the Jets, to him just being a breath of fresh air of how he went about his business. Was accountable, held others accountable, loves the game, and just studies his a— off. I haven’t seen many guys to that level of just knowing the insides and outs of football.”
With Rodgers still a free agent, longtime backup Mason Rudolph and unproven 2025 rookie Will Howard remain Pittsburgh’s top two quarterbacks for springtime workouts. Regardless of how outsiders feel, it seems like Heyward is ready to welcome Rodgers back with open arms if the future Hall of Famer decides he wants to play for Pittsburgh through at least January 2027.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
