Craig Heyward

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Craig Heyward
No. 33, 34, 45
Position:
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Passaic (NJ)
College:Pittsburgh
NFL draft:1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:4,301
Average:4.2
Touchdowns:
30
Receiving yards:1,559
Average:8.8
Touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Craig William Heyward (September 26, 1966 – May 27, 2006), nicknamed "Ironhead", was an American professional

in an 11-year NFL career.

Professional career

He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (24th pick overall) of the

Pittsburgh, Heyward rushed for 1,791 yards to earn consensus All-American honors and finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.[4]

Heyward was widely regarded as a nightmare for opposing defenses because he was often as big, and sometimes bigger, than the defenders who had to stop him, and had surprising quickness and agility. One of the NFL's best "big man" running backs in the vein of Earl Campbell, Heyward, at 5' 11" and reportedly weighing 330 pounds, was a punishing runner who was also a devastating blocker and good receiver. Heyward slimmed down to closer to 280.

In 1997, Heyward showcased his sense of humor in a series of

Zest body wash,[5] introducing a generation of American men to the modern version of the luffa
that is now a fixture in many showers and bathtubs. The "lather-builder" and Heyward's tough-guy image created a humorous contrast in the advertisement, culminating in a voting campaign that named it the "thingy".

In November 1998, Heyward reported blurred vision in his right eye, and was diagnosed with a

bone cancer, reportedly a chordoma, at the base of his skull that was pressing on the optic nerve. After it was partially removed in a 12-hour operation, he underwent 40 rounds of radiation treatments and was later pronounced cancer-free; the diagnosis nonetheless ended his playing career.[6]

To this day, his 1995 season is the last time a fullback rushed for 1,000 yards.[7]

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1988 NO 11 74 355 4.8 73 1 13 105 8.1 18 0
1989 NO 16 49 183 3.7 15 1 13 69 5.3 12 0
1990 NO 16 129 599 4.6 47 4 18 121 6.7 12 0
1991 NO 7 76 260 3.4 15 4 4 34 8.5 22 1
1992 NO 16 104 416 4.0 23 3 19 159 8.4 21 0
1993 CHI 16 68 206 3.0 11 0 16 132 8.3 20 0
1994 ATL 16 183 779 4.3 17 7 32 335 10.5 34 1
1995 ATL 16 236 1,083 4.6 31 6 37 350 9.5 25 2
1996 ATL 15 72 321 4.5 34 3 16 168 10.5 25 0
1997 STL 16 34 84 2.5 8 1 8 77 9.6 25 0
1998 IND 4 6 15 2.5 8 0 1 9 9.0 9 0
Career 149 1,031 4,301 4.2 73 30 177 1,559 8.8 34 4

Personal life

Nickname

In an article that son

hat size of 8¾.[9] Heyward's obituary in The New York Times made an additional reference to the nickname's origin, which Cameron had disputed in his article that that was not how "Ironhead" came to be; that in street football games, he would lower his head into the stomach of the tackler. One opponent had said it hurt so much that Heyward's head "must be made of iron."[10]

Family

Heyward had four sons named Craig, Jr., Cameron, Corey, and Connor. All four played sports in high school. Craig Jr. played for his father's alma mater in New Jersey, while his three brothers played for Peachtree Ridge High School in Georgia.

Heyward's son,

2011 NFL Draft. He would write the words "IRON HEAD" on his eye black
as a tribute to his father.

Heyward's oldest son, Craig Jr., played high school football for Passaic High School as he did and later was a walk-on at

special teams. He was signed to the Trenton Steel of the SIFL where he was a running back. After his playing career ended, Heyward Jr. entered coaching as an assistant for Nutley High School
in his native northern New Jersey.

Heyward's son, Corey, graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School and played

Georgia Tech
.

His youngest son,

Cancer and death

Heyward died on May 27, 2006, at the age of 39, a year after another cancerous tumor developed that had metastasized to his brain; the recurrence of the tumor proved to be inoperable. Heyward had also experienced a stroke in the years prior to his death.[13]

See also

  • List of college football yearly rushing leaders

References

  1. ^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. ^ "Jahri Evans, Reggie Bush, and Craig Heyward highlight former New Orleans Saints on 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot". NewOrleansSaints.com. June 6, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  3. ^ Brad (21 June 2017). "Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward Pitt Panthers". College Football Crazy. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  4. ^ "Pitt running back and 1987 Heisman Trophy finalist Craig..." UPI. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  5. ^ Forbes, Serenity (2009-09-02), Craig Heyward - Zest, retrieved 2022-10-17
  6. ^ "Heyward lived hard and died young - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  7. ^ "Craig Heyward Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  8. ^ Heyward, Cameron (August 11, 2016). "For Ironhead".
  9. ^ "Craig Heyward: A Man Called "Ironhead"". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  10. ^ Litsky, Frank. "Craig Heyward, Who Was N.F.L.'s Ironhead, Is Dead at 39", The New York Times, May 29, 2006. "He would lower his head into tacklers' stomachs, and one opponent said it hurt so much that Heyward's head had to be made of iron. Once, Heyward said, a youngster clubbed him over his size 8¾ head with a billiard cue. The cue broke in half."
  11. ^ Charboneau, Matt (December 9, 2016). "Connor Heyward, son of ex-NFL player, commits to MSU". DetroitNews.com. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Steelers pick Heyward's brother Connor on Day 3". ESPN.com. 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  13. ^ Pasquarelli, Len (May 28, 2006). "'Ironhead' Heyward loses battle with recurring tumor". ESPN. Retrieved October 1, 2015.

External links