Lions add Rushford native to coaching staff
This is a 2022 photo of Steve Heiden of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team. This image reflects the Arizona Cardinals active roster as of Thursday, May 12, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
(ABC 6 News) – The Detroit Lions announced the team added a Rushford native to its coaching staff.
Steve Heiden will be joining the Lions as the newest tight ends coach. Heiden enters his 11th season as an NFL coach following a 10-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals (2013-22) in various roles.
After joining the Cardinals as an assistant special teams/assistant tight ends coach from 2013-17, he served as the assistant offensive line coach in 2018 before overseeing Arizona’s tight ends from 2019-22.
Steve Heiden enters his 11th season as an NFL coach following a 10-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals (2013-22) in various roles. After joining the Cardinals as an assistant special teams/assistant tight ends coach from 2013-17, he served as the assistant offensive line coach in 2018 before overseeing Arizona’s tight ends from 2019-22.
After the Cardinals acquired TE Zach Ertz in Week 6 of the 2021 season, Heiden help guide Ertz to a share of the single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end (56) and helped Ertz become the first Cardinals tight end to top 500 receiving yards in a season since 2003.
In his 10 seasons in Arizona, Heiden helped the Cardinals earn three trips to the postseason and capture an NFC West Division championship in 2015.
Before coaching, Heiden had an 11-year playing career with the San Diego Chargers (1999-2001) and Cleveland Browns (2002-09), appearing in 148 games (82 starts) and logging 201 receptions for 1,689 yards (8.4 avg.) and 14 touchdowns.