Exit Meeting: TE Connor Heyward
Experience: 4 Years
Connor Heyward is a core special teams player and a difference-maker in that phase. Last season, he added another role. Although they didn’t use it frequently, he became their “Tush Push” quarterback and ran it successfully. They called it the Spartan in his honor, referring to his alma mater, and, well, it worked.
That won’t be the reason that the Steelers re-sign Heyward, though. And to make it abundantly clear, Cam Heyward won’t be the reason, either. Four years into his career, Connor Heyward has more than justified his place in the NFL. He is a mainstay on special teams, and I’m guessing that’s something the Steelers will continue to value.
Not without change, of course. Mike Tomlin resigned, and longtime special teams coordinator Danny Smith also parted ways. New special teams coordinator Danny Crossman is another old-school guy, however, and should value what Heyward brings.
In fact, with the Steelers releasing Jonnu Smith, there could be more room for Connor Heyward. And under Mike McCarthy, they might use a fullback more, a role Heyward can execute. Taking a backseat in the tight end room last season, he saw few opportunities to contribute as a receiver.
In 2023, however, Heyward caught 23 passes for 167 yards. As a rookie, he caught 12 for 151 and 1 touchdown. He has 3 receiving touchdowns in his career. Last season, he scored as a rusher twice, once in the Tush Push formation.
While Connor Heyward played just 90 offensive snaps last year—less than half of his playing time the year before, and less than a quarter of 2023—he also played 290 snaps on special teams. He has logged 1,1124 snaps on special teams over his four-year career, earning his keep. He added nine tackles last season, but that’s just the most obvious, tangible means of measuring a special teams player who isn’t a returner.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves licking their wounds after yetanother early playoff exit. This is a repeated pattern for the organization, but with major change coming. As the Steelers conduct their own exit meetings, we willgo down the roster conducting our own. Who should stay, and who should go, and how? Who should expect a bigger role next season, and who might deserve a new contract? The resignation of Mike Tomlin makes those questions much more difficult to answer, but much more important. We’ll explore those questions and more in these articles, part of an annual series.
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