The DK Metcalf trade saga dominated the early days of the NFL offseason with many convinced the wideout was heading to the LA Chargers. After all, the Chargers checked every box Metcalf had for a new team and had the resources (and roster need) to strike a deal.
Instead, Metcalf landed with a surprise team — the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh traded a package headlined by the 52nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and instantly signed Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension.
Fans assumed the Chargers did not want to sign Metcalf to that large of a contract, which certainly checks out based on how the team has operated this offseason. However, that was not the only factor at play in getting Metcalf to Pittsburgh.
Steelers All-Pro Cam Heyward recently revealed on his "Not Just Football" podcast that he caught wind of Metcalf potentially joining the Chargers and did everything he could to keep it from happening (transcription via LA Football Network).
"I was in California at the time, and I heard DK was in town, and then someone was like, ‘Oh he’s going to the Chargers and so I hit up one of my friends, Tracy Perlman and she was like, ‘Yeah, I hear he might be going.’ I’m like, ‘Text DK. Tell him to come with us.’ And then like in the next week, he was already with us. I don’t know how that happened, but DK was all about it."Cam Heyward
Steelers' Cam Heyward admits he meddled in Chargers' DK Metcalf pursuit
This is just another reason for Chargers fans to despise Heyward. Heyward started his villain journey back in 2021 when he not-so-subtly hit Justin Herbert in the torso while he was down after a play.
Now, Heyward is just adding to the villain lore.
In reality, Heyward alone isn't the reason why Metcalf is on the Steelers instead of the Chargers. If the Chargers really wanted Metcalf then they could have offered him slightly more money in an extension and offered the Seahawks slightly more in a trade package.
That being said, Heyward may have had some kind of influence on Metcalf's landing spot. Metcalf clearly worked in tandem with the Seahawks to find a team that made sense for him and this added influence from Heyward may have caused a desire to play for Pittsburgh.
While Seattle didn't have to work with Metcalf on finding a trade partner, the collaboration worked out for all parties as it allowed the Seahawks to find a partner that could extend Metcalf. Without that, the Seahawks would have been limiting themselves on the potential trade return.
Regardless of how it happened, it's clear based on Heyward's comments that those in league circles though Metcalf to the Chargers was a done deal. Whether it be due to the Chargers not wanting to pay for Metcalf, Heyward's influence, or a mixture of both, the star wideout landing in Pittsburgh instead of LA.