Craig “Ironhead” Heyward passed away yesterday at the age of 39. The former NFL running back had been battling a recurring brain tumor for 7 1/2 years. Heyward enjoyed eleven seasons in the NFL with New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis and Indianapolis. The former University of Pittsburgh All-American rushed for a career-high 1,083 yards for the Falcons in 1995. Heyward was one of the biggest running backs in NCAA Division I-A history, with a weight estimated at 260 to 285 pounds and who knows his exact weight at certain points in the pros. Heyward ran for 3,086 while at Pittsburgh and trailed only Tony Dorsett with 6,526 yards and Curvin Richards who ran for 3,192 yards.
God Bless Craig Heyward and his entire family.