PITTSBURGH (AP) — There’s a legacy that comes when your last name is Heyward, and you play football for a living.

Especially when you do it in Pittsburgh.

Connor Heyward has known this basically his entire life. The Steelers tight end/fullback grew up hearing the stories about his father, former NFL running back and University of Pittsburgh great Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. He watched from afar as older brother Cam evolved from a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2011 into one of the best defensive tackles of his generation.

It’s a lot to live up to. Particularly when what you do on the field is hard to define.

Connor Heyward doesn’t bulldoze opposing linebackers as his dad did. He doesn’t overwhelm offensive linemen on the way to the quarterback — and maybe one day the Hall of Fame — like his brother.

There’s no one more aware of this than the 26-year-old who has spent the past four seasons trying to show that his roster spot isn’t merely the result of the name on the back of his jersey.

“I always feel like I have something to prove,” Heyward said. “Whether that’s to myself or just my peers, teams we’re competing against, just showing them that I belong.”

Even now, after being selected as an alternate to the Pro Bowl as a fullback for the first time, Heyward is hardly ready to exhale and say he’s arrived. While he points out he’s stuck it out longer than most sixth-round picks, all it takes is one search of his name on social media to make sure the chip on his shoulder never leaves.

There were times, particularly earlier in his career, when the online vitriol directed his way that he was the NFL’s version of a nepo-baby would get to him.

“You can’t hide from that,” he said. “You see it. It sucks.”

A ‘true football player’

He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Asked if he thinks it’s hard for Connor to be his little brother, Cam Heyward nodded.