The Pittsburgh Steelers lost tight end and core special teamer Connor Heyward in free agency, as he signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week. In leaving Pittsburgh, Heyward also leaves his brother, Steelers DL Cam Heyward. In an interview with Raiders’ columnist Paul Gutierrez for the team’s YouTube channel, Connor opened up on how hard it was to leave the Steelers.
“Honestly, it was so hard. Talking to everybody, I’m still getting messages just saying thank you for the person you were. I’m super grateful for my time in Pittsburgh and obviously playing with Cam [Heyward]. You don’t usually get to play with your siblings, let alone at a professional level. So I didn’t take it for granted. I loved going in everyday to work with Cam’s locker being right next to mine. That was amazing,” Heyward said.
It’s not often a player gets to grow and learn as an NFL player alongside their older brother, but Connor is ready for a new opportunity. He said his mom was pushing for him to get out of his comfort zone and do his own thing, and he’ll have that opportunity with the Raiders. Under new head coach Klint Kubiak, Heyward is reportedly expected to play more of a pure fullback role. While that’s not something he’s done full-time with the Steelers, it’s a role that fits his skillset. He’ll likely continue to be a special teams contributor in Las Vegas.
Heyward also said that the money the Raiders were offering was better than in Pittsburgh, and a bigger role likely comes with that. Pittsburgh offered him comfort and familiarity, but Las Vegas is a new opportunity with more money and potentially a bigger role. There was also some uncertainty of what Heyward’s role could be under a new coaching staff in Pittsburgh, and he decided to take a new opportunity.
Leaving his brother and his teammates, who have become friends in Pittsburgh, wasn’t easy. But Heyward said he already feels comfortable in Las Vegas and is excited for his new opportunity. He should have a clear role with Las Vegas and a chance to spread his wings and prove he’s more than just “Cam’s Brother” as an NFL player. His loss will be felt in Pittsburgh, as not only do they lose a core special teamer, but also a player they used under center for their version of the tush push.
Heyward was always a player who put his head down and did his job with the Steelers. Hopefully, he can find some success and player a bigger role with the Raiders.