PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers rookie Connor Heyward realizes he is likely to hear the crowd get excited when he catches a pass this year. It has nothing to do with his brother Cam.
Heyward is wearing number 83 in black and gold, previously worn by fan favorite Heath Miller.
“I didn’t pick my number, for people wondering,” Heyward said. “He’s a legend here. I wouldn’t be surprised if his jersey is retired at any time. He was a really good person in the community here, best tight end in Steelers history.”
“I know wearing this right now I will have high expectations. I like high expectations, I’ve had them my whole life. I’m used to it. I will accept it. Hopefully I will leave this jersey in a better place when I am done.”
To do that, Heyward is working hard on his game so he can get up to speed as quickly as possible. He doesn’t want to overthink it, just come in and execute. While Pittsburgh is another home for him, there are a lot of new faces this weekend. He doesn’t want them thinking the Steelers defensive captain got him a job.
“I have to come here and earn it,” Connor Heyward said. “It’s cool that he is my brother, I don’t want people to think ‘he’s here because of his brother’. I have a chip on my shoulder even more.”
His family legacy in Pittsburgh is obviously not a hinderance, but you get his point. He’s proud to be Cam’s brother and the late Craig’s son, but wants to be his own man.
“Coach Austin told me yesterday, you move just like your dad,” Connor Heyward said. “You look just like him, you are built like him, you run like him. A lot of people my whole life told me we have the same personality. It’s cool that a lot of people see a lot of similarities in my dad and on the football field. Hopefully I can keep proving people right.”
During his time in college, there are parallels to Heyward being the offensive Dorin Dickerson. The West Allegheny star shuttled around both sides of the ball at Pitt until finally he found a position and became an All-American tight end. Connor Heyward bounced around on different offensive positions at Michigan State and eventually settled at tight end.
Primarily a kick returner as a freshman, Heyward was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as a sophomore as the nation’s most versatile player. That season he led Michigan State in rushing yards and touchdowns, all-purpose yards and kick returns as well as being third on the team in receptions. By his final season, Heyward named Honorable Mention All-Big 10 as a tight end.
“I can play anywhere,” Connor Heyward said. “In the slot, in the backfield at running back or fullback, Wild Cat quarterback, playing tight end with my hand in the ground. It made me learn more of the game of football in terms of technique and how defensive linemen operate. (I found out) How I’m going to win.”
“I’ve done it at the college level and now I have to do that at the professional level. It’s not going to happen overnight, I’m going to have to work every day at it. Stay late and come in early.”
His spot in the locker room will be around a couple of good examples. His stall is next to quarterback Kenny Pickett, who tried to recruit Heyward to Pitt, and his brother Cam. Connor joked he may have to give his brother grief, but more likely watch and learn.
“However many years he has left, I think it would be really cool to be next to him,” Connor Heyward said. “To soak up as much information and knowledge from him until that day comes.”
Given how competitive Cam Heyward is, having his brother giving him grief about being 10 years older could be the edge to let their first time playing together on a team last for a long time.