The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be a much different team when they take the field to begin the 2026 season. The major change is within the coaching staff as Mike McCarthy has taken over and brought in essentially an entirely new staff. There have also been some important additions via trade and through free agency, as players like Michael Pittman Jr., Jamel Dean, and Rico Dowdle have joined the franchise. The other change will consist of players who have left the team, either in free agency or after being released. The main names that will be missing include Kenneth Gainwell, Connor Heyward, and Calvin Austin III.
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Former Steelers fullback and tight end Connor Heyward (83) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
One thing that became a reality during the 2026 offseason is that the Steelers did not do the best job drafting back in 2022. That entire draft class is now completely off of the roster with the final departures being Austin and Heyward. Austin signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, while Heyward signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Heyward leaving surprised some as fans thought he might want to stay on the same team as his older brother, but it became clear that he wanted to pave his own path. He joined Not Just Football on Tuesday, and he was asked about the interest he saw in free agency.
"Minnesota was interested," Heyward said. "Miami was interested. The Steelers wanted me back. Danny Smith, once he found out I was still a free agent, I heard that he was going to run upstairs and then after that, I signed. I heard that from Fredo [Alfredo Roberts]. There was a lot of interest, it was just more so people didn't really think I would leave Pittsburgh."
Heyward will always have ties to Pittsburgh just because of the impact that his family has had on the city. His father, Craig Heyward, played his college football at Pittsburgh before being drafted in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Connor has also had a fairly successful four seasons with the Steelers, while Cam Heyward has turned into a Pittsburgh legend.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward celebrates with his brother Cam Heyward after scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in 2025.
Connor got some hate from the fan base while he was in Pittsburgh, which is likely part of the reason he decided to sign elsewhere. The hate was completely unwarranted. He was a great football player while he was with the franchise that contributed in multiple areas of the game. He was good on special teams, could lead block in the run game, and he also had reliable hands. He scored five total touchdowns with the Steelers while catching 44 passes and running the ball 18 times.
The new Raiders fullback also helped revolutionize Pittsburgh's offense a bit in 2025. He became a major factor of the tush push, as he would line up under center and perform a quarterback sneak while getting pushed from behind. The team ran some trick plays off of it, including one that turned into a 29-yard rush for Connor.
He saw significant interest in free agency, but it sounds like other teams just thought that he would end up staying with the Steelers.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell and tight end Connor Heyward celebrate in Steelers 28-15 win on Monday Night Football against Miami Dolphins.
Steelers Could Have Used Connor Heyward In 2026
Connor was an effective fullback for the Steelers throughout his four-year tenure with the team, and McCarthy typically carries a fullback on his rosters. Many fans connected these dots and assumed that Connor would be back in the black and gold for the 2026 season, but he chose to go to Las Vegas to get a fresh start. He had interest from Pittsburgh, but he will be with Las Vegas for at least the next few seasons.
What do you think about Connor's comments on his free agency? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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