Connor Heyward Bio
Connor Heyward (born January 22, 1999) is an American professional football fullback and tight end who plays in the National Football League (NFL). After beginning his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans before entering the professional ranks.
Heyward comes from one of the most recognized football families in the sport. He is the son of former Pro Bowl NFL running back Craig Heyward and the younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Cameron and Connor were teammates during Connor’s first four NFL seasons.
Early Life and Background
Connor Heyward was born on January 22, 1999, in Duluth, Georgia. He grew up in the same Atlanta-area community and attended Peachtree Ridge High School in nearby Suwanee, Georgia. His early life was shaped heavily by football, given the success of his father and older brother in the sport.
As the son of a former Pro Bowl running back, Heyward was exposed to high-level football from a young age. His older brother Cameron Heyward has long been one of the most respected defensive linemen in the NFL, and the household gave Connor a clear view of the work required to sustain a long professional career. The family connection to the game helped guide his decision to pursue football seriously as he moved through high school.
Path to American Football
Heyward developed into a versatile offensive player at Peachtree Ridge High School, where he lined up at multiple skill positions. His performance drew the attention of several college programs, and he ultimately committed to Michigan State, joining a Spartans program with a strong tradition of producing NFL-caliber running backs and tight ends.
At Michigan State, Heyward initially worked as a running back and steadily expanded his role in the passing game. His first collegiate touchdown came on November 25, 2017, against Rutgers, signaling early promise. Across his college career he logged meaningful production as both a runner and a receiver, finishing his time in East Lansing after transitioning to the H-back position in 2021.
Connor Heyward Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Heyward’s college career at Michigan State began in 2017, when he appeared as a freshman running back. He recorded his first collegiate touchdown against Rutgers on November 25, 2017. As a sophomore in 2018, he became a more consistent contributor, rushing 118 times for 529 yards and five touchdowns while also adding 32 receptions for 249 yards through the air.
After losing his starting job following the opening game of the 2019 season, Heyward briefly entered the NCAA transfer portal before returning to the Spartans and redshirting the year. In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he led Michigan State with 65 carries, producing 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go with 18 receptions for 71 yards and two receiving scores. Before the 2021 season he moved from running back to H-back, catching 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate year.
Pittsburgh Steelers Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Heyward entered the NFL when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the sixth round with the 208th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 12 receptions for 151 receiving yards and one touchdown. That first professional score came on December 4, 2022, on a 17-yard catch against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13.
In 2023, Heyward continued to grow into a rotational role on offense, finishing the season with 23 receptions for 167 yards. He also made his first playoff appearance that year, playing in the AFC Wild Card round against the Buffalo Bills. During the 2024 season, he appeared in 17 games and made five starts, hauling in a touchdown in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys and later suiting up for a postseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The 2025 season marked Heyward’s most creative usage yet. He made the Steelers’ roster as a hybrid fullback and tight end and began lining up in wildcat quarterback packages, including multiple tush push plays. That year he scored a receiving touchdown on a 12-yard reception in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns and finished the season with 15 carries for 43 yards and two rushing touchdowns, plus three receptions for 21 yards and one receiving score.
Driving Style and Strengths
Heyward’s value comes from his positional versatility. He is comfortable lined up as a traditional fullback, as an in-line or detached tight end, and as a short-yardage runner in wildcat looks. His background as a college running back gives him reliable hands and tackle-breaking ability in space, while his H-back experience has sharpened his route running and blitz pickup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Heyward’s first NFL touchdown, a 17-yard reception at Atlanta in Week 13 of 2022, marked the start of his professional scoring account. His shift to wildcat quarterback duty during the 2025 season represented a clear expansion of his role and a memorable late chapter with the Steelers before his move in free agency.
Connor Heyward Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Connor Heyward has built a reputation as a dependable hybrid fullback and tight end rather than a stat-sheet leader. Through the 2025 season, his career totals include 44 receptions for 379 receiving yards, 70 rushing yards, and 5 total touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers Highlights
Heyward spent his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted in 2022. He played in 17 games as a rookie, posted 23 receptions in 2023, and made his postseason debut that same year against the Buffalo Bills. In 2024 he started five games and appeared in the AFC postseason against Baltimore, before carving out a unique wildcat role for the Steelers in 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
Heyward’s most memorable individual performance came on December 4, 2022, when he grabbed his first NFL touchdown at the Atlanta Falcons. Additional scoring moments included a Week 5 touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in 2024 and a 12-yard receiving score versus the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 of 2025.
Connor Heyward Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Heyward family is a well-known football family. Connor is the son of Craig Heyward, a former Pro Bowl NFL running back, and the younger brother of Cameron Heyward, an All-Pro defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Connor’s older brother Corey Heyward played college basketball at Georgia Tech.
Personal Life
Connor Heyward grew up in Duluth, Georgia, alongside his brothers in the Heyward household. His career path has been closely tied to his family legacy, highlighted by the chance to play alongside his brother Cameron during his first four professional seasons with the Steelers.
2025 Season Performance
Connor Heyward’s 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers showcased his most expanded offensive role to date. Used as a hybrid fullback and tight end, he also took direct snaps as a wildcat quarterback, including multiple tush push plays, giving the Steelers a short-yardage wrinkle out of heavier personnel groupings.
Heyward scored a 12-yard receiving touchdown in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, part of a season in which he produced 15 carries for 43 yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with three receptions for 21 yards and one receiving touchdown. His mix of blocking, pass catching, and goal-line rushing helped stabilize the Steelers’ offense in situational football.
Following the 2025 season, Heyward departed Pittsburgh in free agency. On March 13, 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a two-year, $5.5 million contract with $2 million guaranteed, opening a new chapter of his career as he joins a Raiders offense looking to add a versatile two-way contributor to its backfield.
