Craig Heyward facts for kids

Craig William Heyward (September 26, 1966 – May 27, 2006) was a famous American football player. People often called him "Ironhead." He played as a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 years. Craig played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He then joined several NFL teams, including the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, and Indianapolis Colts. He was known for his powerful running style.

Craig Heyward's Football Journey

Craig Heyward was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was the 24th player picked overall. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. In just three seasons there, he gained 3,086 rushing yards. This is the third-highest in Pitt's history. In 1987, he rushed for 1,791 yards. This earned him a spot on the College Football All-America Team. He also finished fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Heyward was a tough player to stop. He was often as big, or even bigger, than the players trying to tackle him. Despite his size, he was surprisingly quick and agile. He was known as one of the NFL's best "big man" running backs. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed around 280 to 330 pounds. He was a strong runner, a great blocker, and a good receiver.

In 1997, Craig Heyward appeared in television commercials for Zest body wash. He helped introduce a new type of luffa to many people. The commercials were funny because they showed Heyward's tough image with a soft "lather-builder."

Craig's playing career ended in November 1998. He started having blurry vision in his right eye. Doctors found a serious illness at the base of his skull. After surgery and treatments, he was declared free of the illness.

His 1995 season was very special. He was the last fullback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season.

Craig's Life Off the Field

How He Got His Nickname

Craig Heyward's nickname was "Ironhead." His son, Cameron Heyward, shared a story about how his dad got the name. When Craig was about 12 or 13, he was at the Boys & Girls Club. Another boy hit him over the head with a pool cue, but Craig barely reacted. Mr. Philip, who worked there, said, "You have an Iron head!" Craig's mother later started calling him "Ironhead," and the name stuck.

The nickname also described his amazing strength. He even had to wear a very large hat size of 8¾. Another story says he got the name in street football games. He would lower his head into tacklers' stomachs. One opponent said it hurt so much that Craig's head "must be made of iron."

His Family and Legacy

Craig Heyward had four sons: Craig Jr., Cameron, Corey, and Connor. All of them played sports in high school. Craig Jr. played for his father's old high school in New Jersey. His other three brothers played in Georgia.

Craig's son, Cameron Heyward, is also a professional football player. He plays defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was picked by the Steelers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. As a tribute to his father, Cameron writes "IRON HEAD" on his eye black during games.

Craig's oldest son, Craig Jr., played high school football at Passaic High School. He later played college football at Middle Tennessee State. After his playing career, Craig Jr. became a coach.

Another son, Corey, played basketball for Georgia Tech.

His youngest son, Connor Heyward, played college football at Michigan State University. He was also drafted by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft, just like his brother Cameron.

His Passing

Craig Heyward passed away on May 27, 2006, when he was 39 years old. He had been battling a serious illness. A year before his passing, the illness returned and could not be treated.

See also

• List of college football yearly rushing leaders