Watch: Connor Heyward makes splash special teams recovery
Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!
In Week 18, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t earn a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but they got a big splash play on special teams by a player that doesn’t get much recognition from week to week: Connor Heyward.
Sure, we know he’s veteran, team captain, 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Cameron Heyward‘s younger brother. Steelers fans know he’s listed as a tight end and fullback on this year’s roster. Otherwise, Connor quietly plays with little fanfare, which is often a good thing because he’s doing his job and not earning penalties.
On Saturday night, in the fourth quarter of the season finale, Corliss Waitman was called-upon to punt the ball back to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh down 14-19. On the punt, the ball hit the ground and touched D.J. Ivey, as the following image shows in detail.
After the ball bounced away, Heyward, closed in and secured the fumble, sliding before going out of bounds. His play gave the ball back to the offense that set up a successful Chris Boswell field goal to put Pittsburgh within two points of a comeback, 17-19.
https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1875752097700049210
The Steelers didn’t get the job done, but Heyward’s special teams fumble recovery gave them their best opportunity at a victory so late in the game.
