Former Steelers TE Connor Heyward Delivers Honest Message About His Transition From Pittsburgh To Las Vegas

The Pittsburgh Steelers said goodbye to one of their most versatile weapons this offseason when Connor Heyward signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, where he carved out a unique role as a hybrid tight end, special-teamer, and tush-push specialist, Heyward is now learning what it means to be a traditional fullback for the first time in his NFL career. He recently sat down with SiriusXM NFL Radio and gave a refreshingly candid take on how things are going.

The transition has not been without its challenges. In Pittsburgh, Heyward was used as a gadget player who wore many hats. He lined up at tight end, contributed on special teams, and became the short-yardage quarterback for the Steelers' version of the tush push, scoring two rushing touchdowns on 15 carries last season. Now in Las Vegas under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's West Coast system, Heyward is being asked to be a pure fullback for the first time. That means mastering lead blocking, acting as a check-down receiver out of the backfield, and being a situational ball carrier all within a complex playbook. At the SiriusXM NFL Radio interview, Heyward had much to say about the adjustment.

"I feel like the transition is going well. Obviously new to me, playing strictly fullback. In Pittsburgh, played more of the tight end position, played fullback at times and the tush push last year. I feel like I'm picking up on it," Heyward explained. "It's the West Coast offense, but it's something that you have to know [like] the back of your hand and be able to play fast, because you can do so many things within this offense."

Heyward acknowledged the complexity of what Kubiak is asking of him, but made it clear he is embracing the challenge head on. The Raiders have not consistently rostered a fullback for the last two seasons, making his addition a fundamental schematic change for the organization. Las Vegas even gave him jersey number 34 to mark the transition, swapping out the number 83 he wore as a tight end in Pittsburgh. 

As SteelerNation previously covered, the Steelers have already identified Riley Nowakowski as the player they believe can fill the void Heyward left behind, but Heyward himself is not looking back.

Steelers' Connor Heyward Embraces New Chapter 

Perhaps the most compelling part of Heyward's transition is the personal side of it. For four years in Pittsburgh, he played alongside his older brother and Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward, a dynamic that made his time in the Steel City genuinely unique in the NFL. Leaving that behind was not easy, but Connor made it clear he is fully committed to writing his own story. Cam publicly showed his support on Instagram, telling his brother he was never appreciated enough for the player he truly is and encouraging him to go make his own legacy.

Connor echoed that sentiment when he addressed his move directly saying he has embraced everything about his new situation from his role to the people around him to the city of Las Vegas itself. He did not leave Pittsburgh with any bitterness and made a point to express how much he valued his time there while also making clear that this new chapter is one he is fully locked in on.

For the Steelers, Heyward's departure closes a unique chapter. He was never a star in the traditional sense, but he was one of those players who made the team better in ways that did not always show up in the box score. His versatility, his toughness, and his willingness to do whatever the team needed made him a fan favorite in Pittsburgh even if he was not always appreciated the way Cam suggested he deserved to be. Now in Las Vegas, he finally has the chance to prove just how valuable a true fullback can be in the modern NFL. 

What do you think about Heyward's transition from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas?

#SteelerNation