Even Steelers Legends Turn on Cameron Heyward as ‘Hold-In’ Drama Boils Over in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA – August 14, 2025

Pittsburgh has seen its share of long, painful baseball nights, but Thursday pushed the patience of an entire city to its breaking point. Even the voices that have been part of the game for decades couldn’t hold back. In a brutal 14-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Pirates broadcasters Greg Brown and Matt Capps — usually the last line of defense for the hometown team — abandoned diplomacy. No sugarcoating. No excuses. Just raw truth: the Pirates didn’t just lose, they looked like they’d already quit.

Fans took their frustration online, and it wasn’t just about baseball. Over on the football side, Steelers Nation vented about a defense that one fan on X called “historic” — not for dominance, but for underachieving. The post name-checked Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, and, yes, Cameron Heyward. Another fan, dripping with sarcasm, suggested if Heyward and kicker Chris Boswell can “hold in” while waiting for new deals, why not let Jaylen Warren join them — just so the Steelers can roll out a “dueling punter special teams” package for laughs.

Up in the stands, the gallows humor kept coming. “The Brewers are really good, though,” one spectator offered. Veteran Pittsburgh columnist Tim Benz shot back, “Sure, but that doesn’t mean the Pirates have to look like the Washington Generals.” It stung because it rang true — in a city that prides itself on grit, watching a team play like they’re counting down the days until the season ends feels like a betrayal.

The punchline turned into a gut punch when another fan muttered, “It’s like they’ve quit on the season,” only for Christian Yelich to crush a 400-foot homer moments later. It was poetic — in the cruelest way possible.

Meanwhile, 40 miles away in Latrobe, the Steelers’ own drama simmered. Cameron Heyward’s ongoing “hold-in” loomed large over training camp, a reminder that in Pittsburgh sports right now, commitment feels negotiable. For some fans, watching a franchise cornerstone sit out while the team needs total focus is no different than the Pirates throwing in the towel.

This city can live with losing. It cannot live with surrender.