Craig Heyward
Craig Heyward (September 26, 1966 – May 27, 2006), nicknamed "Ironhead," was an American professional football fullback who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), amassing 4,301 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns while earning a Pro Bowl selection in 1995.[1][2][3] Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Heyward earned his enduring nickname during his youth in street football, where he once survived a blow to the head from a pool cue without injury, showcasing the toughness that defined his playing style.[3] At Passaic High School, he was an all-state selection, and at the University of Pittsburgh, he became a First-Team All-American in 1987 after rushing for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.[2] Drafted in the first round (24th overall) by the [New Orleans Saints](/page/New Orleans_Saints) in 1988, Heyward quickly established himself as a powerful blocker and runner, contributing to the Saints' 1991 NFC West division title with an 11-5 record and helping running back Dalton Hilliard achieve 1,262 rushing yards in 1989.[1][2] Heyward's NFL career spanned five teams: the New Orleans Saints (1988–1992), Chicago Bears (1993), Atlanta Falcons (1994–1996), St. Louis Rams (1997), and Indianapolis Colts (1998), during which he played 149 games and added 1,559 receiving yards with four receiving touchdowns.[1] His peak performance came with the Falcons, where he led the team in rushing with 779 yards in 1994 and a career-high 1,083 yards and six touchdowns in 1995, earning him his lone Pro Bowl honor.[2] Renowned for his 5-foot-11, 260-pound frame and relentless style, Heyward was described by Saints general manager Jim Finks as the best blocking back in the league.[3] Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1998 that forced his retirement, Heyward lost his hearing and sight following surgery but remained a beloved figure in football, later working as a motivational speaker.[2] He died of brain cancer in 2006 at age 39, leaving behind four sons, including Cameron and Connor Heyward, who both pursued professional football careers in the NFL.[3][2]Early life
Birth and family background
Craig Heyward was born on September 26, 1966, in Passaic, New Jersey, to a working-class family headed by his mother, Ann Heyward, a domestic worker. Growing up fatherless in a household of eight children, Heyward was the sixth-youngest sibling in an environment marked by economic challenges and urban grit typical of mid-20th-century Passaic, an industrial city with a diverse, blue-collar population.[4] The family dynamics emphasized resilience and close-knit support, with Ann Heyward playing a central role in instilling discipline amid the hardships of raising multiple children alone. Heyward's early childhood was shaped by the rough streets of Passaic, where he faced frequent confrontations, including a notable incident around age 12 when a peer struck him over the head with a pool cue at the local Boys & Girls Club, breaking the cue but leaving him unscathed—an event that earned him the enduring nickname "Ironhead" from his grandmother.[2] This community program provided one of his first structured exposures to sports and recreation, fostering initial interests in physical activities within a supportive yet demanding setting.[5] The socioeconomic context of Passaic's working-class neighborhoods, characterized by limited resources and occasional violence—such as gang-related disturbances near local events—contributed to Heyward's development of toughness and a strong work ethic from a young age. These early influences in an urban New Jersey milieu built the foundational grit that would later define his athletic pursuits, as he navigated a childhood blending family responsibilities with street-hardened perseverance.[6]High school career
Craig Heyward attended Passaic High School in Passaic, New Jersey, from 1980 to 1983, where he quickly emerged as a dominant force on the football team.[7] Standing at 5 feet 11 inches and weighing around 250 pounds, Heyward possessed a compact, powerful build that belied his relatively shorter stature for a running back, allowing him to combine brute strength with surprising agility.[7] He played multiple positions, including running back, linebacker, punter, and placekicker, showcasing his versatility from his freshman year onward.[7] His family's encouragement toward sports helped fuel his early dedication, though it was his on-field prowess that drew widespread attention.[2] During his high school tenure, Heyward led Passaic to three New Jersey state championships, including back-to-back Group IV titles in 1982 and 1983.[8] As the team's primary running back, he amassed a school-record 5,142 rushing yards and scored 75 touchdowns over four seasons, with notable performances such as 29 touchdowns in his senior year alone and a single-game high of 247 yards.[7][8] In 1982, he set the state scoring record with 154 points, earning first-team All-State honors as a running back.[9] His senior season culminated in unanimous USA Today, Parade, and Bally All-American recognition, cementing his status as one of the top running back prospects in the nation.[10] Heyward's recruitment process was intense, with interest pouring in from every major college program, including powerhouses like Oklahoma and Ohio State, drawn to his exceptional power and a 40-yard dash time improved to 4.5 seconds.[9] He received hundreds of letters and questionnaires, and endorsements from Passaic alumnus Jack Tatum, a former All-American linebacker, further boosted his profile.[9] Ultimately, his physical attributes—described as a "real big kid" with "one huge set of shoulders" and a natural gliding running style—convinced scouts of his potential as an offensive standout, leading to a scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh.[9][7]College career
University of Pittsburgh
Craig Heyward enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in 1984, where he played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers as a running back from 1984 to 1987, redshirting the 1985 season.[6] His high school reputation as a dominant, hard-charging back from Passaic High School in New Jersey had secured him a full scholarship to the program.[11] Over his three active seasons, Heyward amassed 3,086 rushing yards on 651 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt, establishing himself as one of Pitt's most productive rushers. As a true freshman in 1984, he led the team with 539 yards and four touchdowns on 123 carries. In 1986, following his redshirt year, he improved to 756 yards and eight touchdowns on 131 carries. His senior season in 1987 was a breakout, as he exploded for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns on 387 carries, leading the nation in rushing attempts and powering Pitt to an 8-4 record.[12][6][13] Heyward's playing style was defined by his bruising, power-running approach, leveraging his 260-pound frame to bulldoze defenders in the physically demanding Big East Conference. Transitioning from high school dominance to collegiate competition, he adapted by becoming the focal point of Pitt's ground attack, often carrying the ball 30 or more times per game to wear down opposing defenses and control the clock.[14][15]Achievements and honors
During his junior year at the University of Pittsburgh in 1987, Craig Heyward earned consensus All-American honors as a fullback, recognizing his dominant performance on the national stage.[13] This accolade came after he led the nation with 387 rushing attempts and amassed 1,791 yards, showcasing his relentless workhorse style.[13] Heyward also finished fifth in the 1987 Heisman Trophy voting, the highest placement for any fullback that year, highlighting his impact despite the position's typical underrepresentation in the award's history.[16] His season totals underscored his consistency, as he rushed for at least 100 yards in every one of Pittsburgh's 12 games.[13] Key moments further solidified his reputation, including a standout 259-yard, three-touchdown performance in the regular-season finale against Kent State, which helped cap a campaign that propelled him toward NFL stardom.[13] Over his three-year Pitt tenure, Heyward accumulated 3,086 rushing yards, ranking third all-time in program history at the time.[12]Professional career
Draft and New Orleans Saints
Craig Heyward was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round, 24th overall, of the 1988 NFL Draft.[1] His selection was influenced by his standout college career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1987.[17] In his rookie season of 1988, Heyward appeared in 11 games for the Saints, starting eight, and recorded 74 rushing attempts for 355 yards and one touchdown, while also catching 13 passes for 105 yards.[1] He adjusted to the faster pace of professional football by shedding excess weight from training camp and integrating into the team's backfield alongside veteran runners, providing a physical presence as a fullback despite a late-season knee injury that limited his final seven games.[18] From 1989 to 1992, Heyward reached his peak performance with the Saints, accumulating 358 rushing attempts for 1,458 yards and 12 touchdowns over those four seasons, with his best year coming in 1990 when he rushed for 599 yards and four scores.[1] During this period, he played a key role in the Saints' offense, complementing the dominant "Dome Patrol" defense that defined the team's successful late-1980s and early-1990s era, often serving as a punishing blocker and short-yardage runner to support the ground game in the Superdome.Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons
After being released by the New Orleans Saints following the 1992 season, where he had established himself as a powerful fullback, Craig Heyward signed a three-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in April 1993.[19][20] In his lone season with the Bears, Heyward appeared in all 16 games, starting 14 primarily as a blocker for running backs Neal Anderson and Tim Worley, while recording 68 rushing attempts for 206 yards and 16 receptions for 132 yards.[1] His contributions helped stabilize the Bears' ground attack during a transitional 7-9 campaign under head coach Dave Wannstedt.[2][21] Heyward joined the Atlanta Falcons in June 1994 on a one-year deal after being released by Chicago, marking the start of a three-season stint in which he regained prominence as a lead rusher and blocker.[22] In 1994, he led the team with 183 carries for 779 yards and 7 touchdowns, providing a solid foundation for the Falcons' offense en route to a 7-9 record.[1][23] Heyward's 1995 season stood out as the pinnacle of his mid-career resurgence, rushing for 1,083 yards on 236 attempts with 6 touchdowns—his only 1,000-yard campaign and the last such achievement by an NFL fullback—while earning a Pro Bowl selection for his efforts.[1][24] Beyond his rushing, he excelled in pass protection and lead blocking, aiding the Falcons to a 9-7 finish and supporting the development of the team's running game.[25][2] The 1996 season brought challenges for Heyward in Atlanta, as minor injuries limited him to 15 games and just 5 starts, resulting in 72 carries for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns amid the team's regression to a 3-13 record.[1][26] Throughout his time with both teams from 1993 to 1996, Heyward managed ongoing weight fluctuations, often playing near 290 pounds, which tested his durability but did not overshadow his sustained productivity as a versatile fullback.[27][6]St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts
In 1997, Craig Heyward joined the St. Louis Rams as a fullback, transitioning to a primarily backup role after his more prominent stints earlier in his career. Over 16 games, with 12 starts, he recorded 34 rushing attempts for 84 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 8 receptions for 77 yards, reflecting a diminished workload compared to his peak years.[1] His contributions were largely in short-yardage situations and blocking, as the Rams' offense leaned on other backs amid a 5-11 season.[28] Heyward's final NFL season came in 1998 with the Indianapolis Colts, where injuries limited him to just 4 games and 3 starts. In that span, he managed only 6 rushing attempts for 15 yards, underscoring the physical toll of his 11-year career on his once-dominant power-running style.[1] The Colts finished 4-12, and Heyward's minimal production highlighted his shift to a reserve capacity.[29] Following the 1998 campaign, Heyward retired from the NFL after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.[3][30] These health issues marked the end of a hard-nosed tenure that had earned him Pro Bowl recognition during his Atlanta Falcons years.[6]Career statistics
Regular season
Craig Heyward appeared in 149 regular-season games across 11 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1998, recording 1,031 rushing attempts for 4,301 yards at a 4.2-yard average and 30 rushing touchdowns, while adding 177 receptions for 1,559 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.[1] He also lost 16 fumbles during that span.[1] The following table details Heyward's regular-season rushing, receiving, and fumble statistics by year:| Year | Team | G | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | Fmb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | NOR | 11 | 74 | 355 | 4.8 | 1 | 13 | 105 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | NOR | 16 | 49 | 183 | 3.7 | 1 | 13 | 69 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 | NOR | 16 | 129 | 599 | 4.6 | 4 | 18 | 121 | 0 | 3 |
| 1991 | NOR | 7 | 76 | 260 | 3.4 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | NOR | 16 | 104 | 416 | 4.0 | 3 | 19 | 159 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | CHI | 16 | 68 | 206 | 3.0 | 0 | 16 | 132 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | ATL | 16 | 183 | 779 | 4.3 | 7 | 32 | 335 | 1 | 5 |
| 1995 | ATL | 16 | 236 | 1,083 | 4.6 | 6 | 37 | 350 | 2 | 3 |
| 1996 | ATL | 15 | 72 | 321 | 4.5 | 3 | 16 | 168 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | STL | 16 | 34 | 84 | 2.5 | 1 | 8 | 77 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | IND | 4 | 6 | 15 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | - | 149 | 1,031 | 4,301 | 4.2 | 30 | 177 | 1,559 | 4 | 16 |