# Connor Heyward

Connor Heyward (born January 22, 1999) is an American professional football tight end and fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State. Heyward is the son of Pro Bowl NFL player Craig Heyward and the younger brother of All-Pro NFL player Cameron Heyward.

## Early life

Heyward grew up in Duluth, Georgia and attended Peachtree Ridge High School.

## College career

Heyward played college football at Michigan State from 2017 to 2021, beginning his college career as a running back.
On November 25, 2017, Heyward recorded his first collegiate touchdown against Rutgers.
As a sophomore in 2018, he rushed 118 times for 529 yards and five touchdowns and had 32 catches for 249 yards. After losing his starting position after the first game of the 2019 season to Elijah Collins, Heyward later left the team and entered the NCAA transfer portal. He later returned to the team and redshirted the year. Heyward led the Spartans with 65 carries and had 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns with 18 receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Prior to the 2021 season, Heyward moved from running back to H-back and tight end. He caught 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.

### College statistics

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2017 | Michigan State | 12 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | Michigan State | 13 | 8 | 32 | 249 | 7.8 | 36 | 0 | 118 | 529 | 4.5 | 80 | 5 |
| 2019 | Michigan State | 4 | 1 | 7 | 52 | 7.4 | 15 | 1 | 24 | 79 | 3.3 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | Michigan State | 7 | 6 | 18 | 71 | 3.9 | 13 | 2 | 65 | 200 | 3.1 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | Michigan State | 13 | 13 | 35 | 326 | 9.3 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 49 | 28 | 96 | 711 | 7.4 | 36 | 6 | 211 | 825 | 3.9 | 80 | 5 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Bench press |
| 5 ft 11+1⁄8 in (1.81 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.72 s | 1.64 s | 2.74 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) | 18 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day |||||||||
Heyward was selected in the sixth round with the 208th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On December 4, 2022, Heyward scored his first professional touchdown during Week 13 at the Atlanta Falcons, a 17-yard catch, getting both feet inbounds at the back of the end zone. In his rookie season, he appeared in 17 games. He finished with 12 receptions for 151 receiving yards and one touchdown. Heyward finished the 2023 season with 23 receptions for 167 yards. He appeared in 17 games and started five in the 2024 season. He had one touchdown, which came in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.

## NFL career statistics

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2022 | PIT | 17 | 0 | 12 | 151 | 12.6 | 45 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PIT | 17 | 7 | 23 | 167 | 7.3 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 13 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 47 | 11 | 39 | 347 | 8.9 | 45 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Personal life

Heyward is the son of Pro Bowl NFL player Craig Heyward. His older brother, Cameron Heyward, is an All-Pro defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His older brother, Corey Heyward, played college basketball for Georgia Tech.