Steelers' Cam Heyward Tells Hilarious Story About Wanting To Fight Ryan Clark

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off the 2013 season in horrible fashion, losing four straight games. They left Wembley Stadium in London after a tough loss to the Minnesota Vikings, sitting at 0-4. Emotions were running high, and naturally, when a team expected to contend begins with such disappointment, tensions boil over. Heated moments and sharp words became inevitable in that locker room. 

One of those moments happened between veteran safety Ryan Clark and a young Cam Heyward. On The Pivot Podcast on Friday, Heyward joined Clark and shared a hilarious story about that intense time. The two teammates had a memorable confrontation that could have easily turned into a fight.

Heyward explained that as a young player trying to find his place, he took exception to Clark’s harsh criticism during those frustrating weeks. Looking back, Heyward admitted he wanted to fight Clark at the time — but now he can laugh about it. The story is a perfect reminder of how passion, pressure, and expectations can sometimes lead to unforgettable locker room moments.

"We had started off like 0-4 and everybody is really tight," Heyward said. "Everybody was trying really hard. Out of nowhere, RC comes up to me and calls me a bust. I was like holdup, what, he just called me a bust. I was hot. Like I was hot."

Heyward described the moment as especially frustrating because he was still trying to carve out his role on the field. Drafted in 2011, by the 2013 season he felt ready to take on a bigger role in the Steelers’ defense but wasn’t getting the opportunities he wanted. 

Clark’s harsh words struck a nerve, and Heyward admitted he genuinely wanted to fight him. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed — Heyward shared that it was Troy Polamalu who stepped in and helped calm him down before things escalated further.

"I am trying every single thing to get on the field and I have a guy in a leadership role coming up to me saying I am a bust," Heyward said. "I wanted to fight RC at the time, but guys around me told me to chill and we would be fine. I had Troy come up to me and say, 'Hey man, just let it go man. RC just says whatever he wants.'"

For a team featuring Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and a young Le’Veon Bell, it was shocking to see them stumble out of the gate. Despite the star power, the Steelers struggled to find rhythm early in the 2013 season. Bell was still developing, and the team was working to build chemistry with several new pieces on both sides of the ball. Adjusting to new personnel and balancing big personalities made the rough start even more surprising — and added to the tension that fueled moments like the clash between Heyward and Clark.

It's Never How The Steelers Start, It's Always How They Finish

In typical Mike Tomlin fashion, the Steelers rallied to salvage the 2013 season, finishing 8-8 after starting 0-4. They found some momentum down the stretch, but ultimately, it was a disappointing year. It marked the first time since 1999 and 2000 that Pittsburgh missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons — a rare low point for the franchise.

Now, the Steelers face a new challenge that looms large: they have not won a playoff game since 2016. Tomlin knows the weight of that drought rests on his shoulders. While many fans doubt he can reverse the trend in 2025, Tomlin remains determined to prove them wrong. His hunger to be part of the solution, rather than the problem, will define this next chapter in Pittsburgh.

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