Connor Heyward

Connor Heyward (born January 22, 1999)^[1] is an American professional football tight end and fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Heyward is the son of Pro Bowl NFL player Craig Heyward and the younger brother of All-Pro NFL player Cameron Heyward.

Connor Heyward

Heyward with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025
No. 83 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:	Tight end Fullback
Personal information
Born:	(1999-01-22) January 22, 1999 (age 26) Duluth, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:	Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Georgia)
College:	Michigan State (2017–2021)
NFL draft:	2022: 6th round, 208th pick
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2022–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions: 41 Receiving yards: 358 Rushing yards: 27 Receiving touchdowns: 2 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Heyward grew up in Duluth, Georgia and attended Peachtree Ridge High School.^[2]

College career

Heyward with Michigan State in 2018

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.^[3][4]

As a sophomore in 2018, he rushed 118 times for 529 yards and five touchdowns and had 32 catches for 249 yards.^[5] 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.^[6] He later returned to the team and redshirted the year.^[7] 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.^[8] Prior to the 2021 season, Heyward moved from running back to H-back.^[9] He caught 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.^[10]

College statistics

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing
		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		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[11][12]

Heyward (83) with the Steelers in 2025

Heyward was selected in the sixth round with the 208th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[13]

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.^[14] In his rookie season, he appeared in 17 games. He finished with 12 receptions for 151 receiving yards and one touchdown.^[15] Heyward finished the 2023 season with 23 receptions for 167 yards.^[16] Heyward made his first playoff appearance this season in a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild card round. 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.^[17] He recorded a second postseason appearance in a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing					Fumbles
		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		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.^[18] His older brother, Cameron Heyward, is an All-Pro defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[19] His older brother, Corey Heyward, played college basketball for Georgia Tech.^[20]