The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking the Brotherly Shove moniker to a whole new level with Connor and Cam Heyward working together.
So the Steelers tight end Connor Heyward explained how his older brother and Steelers defensive lineman Cam helped him run their version of the tush push during their 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
Heyward had three rushing attempts for two yards and one touchdown that tied the score at 10-apiece in the third quarter. Connor also added one catch for three yards while playing just 11 of Pittsburgh’s 75 offensive snaps Sunday.
Yet, thanks in part to the Heywards, the Steelers won their first AFC North title since 2020 and will host a Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium.
Connor Heyward: Arthur Smith Was Behind ‘The Brotherly Shove’
Connor Heyward has been playing the role of quarterback for their sneak-style runs for much of the year. The 6-0, 230-pound tight end had 15 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 29 yards.
Yet Cam Heyward only became a part of the play Sunday night, which truly made the play a Brotherly Shove. Connor explained that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was behind including Cam for the offensive gadget play.
“It was Arthur’s [idea] for sure,” Connor said Monday. “Cam’s walking around the locker room telling guys he was playing offense all week, but little do they know he was just the push guy on the tush.”
Cam’s involvement worked with varying results. On the first sneak attempt he tried to drag Connor across the first-down mark but was held short — though in fairness to the Heywards, that was a full 1.5 yards to get on fourth-and-1 at the Pittsburgh 45-yard line.
“The first one, he tackled me,” Connor said. “I was hot after the first one, but he came up to me afterward and said ‘we’re good, that was my bad.’
“But that was the practice for the second and third.”
To Connor’s point, he looked more like his and Cam’s famous dad and longtime NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. With the help of Cam, Connor converted a fourth-and-1 at the Baltimore 2-yard line then scored on the next play, first-and-goal at the Ravens 1, which knotted the score at 10.
“Shout out to [Smith] for calling it the second and third time and believing in the guys up front, as well,” Connor Heyward said.
The Steelers Gave Cam Heyward The Push Role Without Testing It First
The Brotherly Shove is one of the most violent plays in NFL history, which makes it hard to practice.
So the fact the Steelers failed to convert the first one with Cam aiding Connor is no surprise, given the down and distance and the fact Connor admitted they had not tried that operation at live speed until Sunday night.
“We only ran it on a walkthrough day,” Connor said. “We didn’t get like a live snap of it with where we’re at in the season, you can’t really do that. You kind of only get it with live reps in the game.”
Connor also spelled out exactly what Cam is supposed to do on the play, which the All-Pro defensive lineman seemed to figure out later in the game.
“It’s more of a guide,” Connor said. “I mean, you push, but it’s more just leaning on the guy.”
Steelers TE Connor Heyward Gets Honest on ‘Tush Push’ After Scoring TD With Brother’s Help