Connor Heyward has made the Steelers\u2019 53-man roster for four years now but is tired of people questioning whether he earned it. The younger brother of Steelers All-Pro Cam Heyward, he knows his family\u2019s legacy is a blessing and a curse. The Heyward name certainly helped open doors, but some will never believe he \u201cdeserves\u201d his job.<\/p>\n
A sixth-round pick out of Michigan State, Connor Heyward\u2019s primary job is on special teams. He played over 300 snaps there last season, registering eight tackles and recovering a fumble. While he would love to contribute more on offense, the Steelers have a deep tight end room. Even with no less an authority than Aaron Rodgers praising him<\/a>, he knows his opportunities are limited.<\/p>\n Heyward is not the ideal size for any one position he plays, his body type most suited to fullback\u2014at which, admittedly, he doesn\u2019t excel. If he has one primary strength on offense, it\u2019s his knowledge of the game\u2014and his hands. Although he knows what he\u2019s doing, he also doesn\u2019t have Darnell Washington\u2019s body, or Jonnu Smith\u2019s athleticism.<\/p>\n What he does have is work ethic\u2014and a family name. With Steelers HC Mike Tomlin openly acknowledging his interest in familial pedigree, he has only made the targets bigger on the backs of his fraternal footballers. Although Connor Heyward has it now, before him, it was Derek Watt, T.J.\u2019s brother.<\/p>\n At one time, the Steelers had three sets of brothers on the roster simultaneously\u2014The Watts, the Edmundses, and the Heywards. In 2023, they also had Nick and Hate Herbig. Previously, they had Carlos and Khalil Davis, and Vince Williams briefly saw his brother Karlos on the practice squad. They currently have the sons of two former Steelers players on their 53-man roster: Joey Porter Jr. and Carson Bruener. Another, rookie UDFA Daryl Porter Jr., is on the practice squad.<\/p>\n But when you\u2019re the younger, less accomplished brother, all you\u2019ll hear from fans are cries of nepotism. Connor Heyward certainly seems to hear them. \u201cAt some point, it has to stop<\/a>\u201d, he told Brian Batko about the argument that the Steelers only employ him as a favor to Cam. \u201cEverybody has their own scapegoat for the team. It was Cordarrelle Patterson. Now it\u2019s me\u201d.<\/p>\n Since entering the NFL in 2022, Connor Heyward has logged 784 offensive and 834 special team snaps. He has 41 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns, plus 27 rushing yards on three attempts. He also has 19 career tackles, and the aforementioned recovered fumble.<\/p>\n The highlight of Heyward\u2019s NFL career came as a rookie in Week 12 in Atlanta. He caught his first NFL touchdown pass in the stadium where his father played. And it just so happens his first touchdown bore similarities to his father\u2019s first<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is really cool. Comparing Connor Heyward’s first career TD catch to his father Craig Heyward’s first one. Got behind the defense down the right seam for the score. <\/p>\n Like father, like son. #Steelers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BksGgjE6cJ<\/a><\/p>\n\n