Jon Gruden Tells Hilarious Cam Heyward Story

Former Raiders coach recounts Heyward's dominant performance against Raiders lineman in 2021 game.

Mar. 8, 2026 at 5:37pm

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In a recent interview, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden shared a humorous story about Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward dominating Raiders left guard John Simpson in a 2021 game. Gruden recalled Simpson being unhappy after the game, telling Gruden that Heyward "got the living shit beat out of me." Gruden said Heyward has "real power that people don't understand" and is "like a forklift in there."

Why it matters

Heyward is entering the final year of his contract and could be looking for a raise after contentious negotiations in recent offseasons. Despite being an All-Pro, his $14.25 million salary in 2026 is slated to make him the 18th-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL, even though he has shown no signs of slowing down at age 36.

The details

Heyward was an All-Pro for the second straight season in 2025 and was one of the best players on the Steelers. He said he's not dragging his feet about making a decision on whether to return because of a potential contract issue, but rather just needs time to decompress after the season.

  • In Week 2 of the 2021 season, the Raiders played the Steelers.
  • Gruden told the story in a recent interview with Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith.

The players

Cam Heyward

A 36-year-old defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was an All-Pro in 2025 and is entering the final year of his contract.

Jon Gruden

The former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders who told the story about Heyward dominating Raiders lineman John Simpson in a 2021 game.

John Simpson

A left guard for the Las Vegas Raiders who was dominated by Heyward in a 2021 game against the Steelers.

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What they’re saying

“We won the game, we're all excited. We come into the locker room, and I see John Simpson sitting at his locker. He's unhappy. I go, 'What the hell's the matter with you. He goes. 'I got the living shit beat out of me.' So when I was watching the game on the plane, some of this stuff Heyward did, the guy's got power. He's got real power that people don't understand. It's football f***ing power. He's like a forkelift in there.”

— Jon Gruden, Former Raiders Head Coach (Steelers Now)

What’s next

Heyward is entering the final season of his contract and could be looking for a raise after contentious negotiations in each of the last two offseasons didn't necessarily go his way.

The takeaway

This story highlights Cam Heyward's continued dominance as an elite defensive tackle in the NFL, even at 36 years old. Despite being underpaid relative to his production, Heyward remains a force to be reckoned with and a key part of the Steelers' defense.