Brooke PryorMar 18, 2025, 11:33 AM ET
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- Brooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN who has coated the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She up to now coated the Kansas Town Chiefs for the Kansas Town Big name and the College of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.
PITTSBURGH — Cameron Heyward is not becoming a member of Aaron Rodgers on a darkness retreat anytime quickly.
The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain mentioned on his “No longer Simply Soccer” podcast Tuesday that he is no longer going to nice lengths to recruit the four-time MVP to signal with the Steelers.
“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat,” Heyward mentioned, responding to a query from co-host Hayden Walsh on whether or not he’d move into the darkish with Rodgers to land the quarterback’s services and products. “I don’t want any of that crap. Both you wish to have to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you do not. It is that easy. That is the pitch. If you wish to have me to recruit, that is the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you wish to be a part of it, so be it. If you do not, no pores and skin off my again.”
The tone matched that of latest Steelers huge receiver DK Metcalf, who mentioned ultimate week it wasn’t his function to recruit quarterbacks to Pittsburgh.
“I simply need to play soccer. I am bored with speaking in regards to the quarterback scenario. I would quite have it finished. I do not know what finally ends up going down. I am in a position to transport on into unfastened company. There is an excessive amount of happening.”
Cameron Heyward
“It is a ancient group,” Metcalf mentioned. “They have got finished the recruiting ahead of I even were given right here, so whoever desires to return right here and take a look at to win as many video games as we will, they are able to sign up for us. But when no longer, excellent success at the different aspect.”
Heyward’s perspective, even though, is a departure from ultimate yr’s unfastened company when he used to be a part of a teamwide push to land Russell Wilson. That point round, Heyward used to be one in every of a number of crew and organizational leaders who were given at the telephone with Wilson. The 2 FaceTimed for an hour, Wilson mentioned at his introductory information convention in March 2024.
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“I informed him [Pittsburgh] is not where for glitz and glamour,” Heyward mentioned, describing his pitch to Wilson on “The Up and Adams Display” in July. “It is not L.A., it isn’t Atlanta. That is where the place gladiators come, and we are going to compete each day. He used to be receptive to that. He sought after to compete.”
Whilst he used to be concerned within the ultimate seek for a signal-caller, Heyward, 35, expressed exasperation with this yr’s drawn-out procedure.
“I simply need to play soccer,” Heyward mentioned. “I am bored with speaking in regards to the quarterback scenario. I would quite have it finished. I do not know what finally ends up going down. I am in a position to transport on into unfastened company. There is an excessive amount of happening.”
Regardless that the Steelers are nonetheless ready on Rodgers as he weighs his choices, they did upload a quarterback to the roster — and it is one that earned Heyward’s stamp of approval. The Steelers introduced again 2018 third-round pick out Mason Rudolph after his yearlong stint with the Tennessee Titans.
Rudolph began 13 video games right through his four-year tenure in Pittsburgh, and he used to be essential in serving to the Steelers rally to protected a 2023 playoff berth with wins in every of his 3 regular-season begins.
“When he stepped in for us, he used to be in a position,” Heyward mentioned. “If we do not signal a QB, and we move in there with Mason, we be ok with it. Excited to have him again. He is a man for the locker room. A large number of guys vibe with him.”
