PITTSBURGH — Connor Heyward was 12 years old when the Steelers selected his brother Cam in the first round of the 2011 draft. Eleven years later, Connor got to experience the thrill of receiving that same phone call from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
Connor Heyward, a tight end from Michigan State, was taken in the sixth round on Saturday, and he managed to have some fun at his brother’s expense when taking the call.
“He walked into my mom’s room,” Cam Heyward relayed Saturday night from his childhood home in Georgia. “He was already [ticked off] the whole day. I walked into the room, and the phone rings. I couldn’t see the number. I looked at the screen and Chicago was up. After he got done with the coach, I asked who it was. He said, ‘Hold on one second.’ And he walked away from me.”
Thirty seconds later, Tomlin called Cam to give him the news.
Cam is already thinking about his revenge.
“We’re having a rookie show at camp this year,” Cam said. “I’m looking forward to that more than anything else.”
Connor has been a fixture around the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for the past decade. Cam joked that if Kenny Pickett is giving the tours at the facility, Connor is giving the detours.
Connor Heyward is six inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than his brother, and he’s taken a much different path to the NFL. He began his career as a running back, thought about transferring when he lost his job and then settled on a position change.
Some players balk at position changes, but Connor’s competitive nature and willingness to take on a new challenge is what helped him develop into an NFL prospect.
“I can still remember one of the first basketball games I ever saw him play,” Cam said. “He fouled out and was in tears even though they were blowing the team out. He’s one of the most competitive people I know. He’s had to battle some adversity. It wasn’t easy in college.”
Connor Heyward will have to earn his way onto the 53-man roster. He’ll join a tight end room that includes Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader and Jace Sternberger. He’s also a candidate to play some fullback and could push Derek Watt for a roster spot.
“I saw him as a tight end, a move guy,” tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts said. “He offers some value. He can be an outstanding [special] teams player.
“It’s a skill set that will allow us to do some other things. He runs well, has good body control. He should be able to show up on Sunday with his skillset.”
What also might show up on the practice field is a one-on-one matchup with Cam. Tight ends inevitably have to block defensive ends. So what if Connor holds Cam on a hot and humid day at training camp?
“I’m going to throw him on his ass,” Cam said.
In reality, Cam, Connor and middle brother Corey are extremely close. Their father, former Pitt and NFL star Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, died in 2006 when Connor was in elementary school and Cam in high school.
“He’s been a big brother, but more of a father figure,” Connor said. “I mean, I can take the tough love. I’m kind of expecting it to come in camp, but it makes the experience that much more fun.”
On the field, Connor is more reminiscent of his father. He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung award as the nation’s most versatile player as a sophomore. In addition to playing on offense, he also excelled on special teams, which is how he’ll have to earn a roster spot.
“At Michigan State, I played special teams, around three or four special team units a year, so I know what it takes to be successful on special teams,” he said. “Special teams can keep you in the NFL longer. You can’t shy away from that. That’s something you just want to do.”
The Steelers now have four sets of brothers on their roster. In addition to the Heywards, T.J. and Derek Watt, Terrell and Trey Edmunds and Carlos and Khalil Davis also share the same locker room.
“We value the intangible quality,” said Tomlin, who also made it a point to say anyone on the team is there on his own merit.
“I always felt like they were interested, but I didn’t want to get my expectations too high,” Connor said. “My brother was just as surprised as I was, and we were both just extremely happy. I was not born in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh means a lot and he’s involved a lot. So this just means that much more to me.”
