Steve Heiden turned a successful NCAA Division II college football career into an 11-year NFL career, spending eight years as a starting tight end with the Cleveland Browns.
While at SDSU, Heiden hauled in 112 receptions for 1,499 yards (13.4 avg) and eight touchdowns for the Jackrabbits who were formerly in the now-defunct North Central Conference (NCC).
He earned his degree in childhood education at SDSU.
He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round (#69 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played 11 games as a rookie and made his first touchdown catch as a second year pro in 2000 against the Carolina Panthers (12/17).
After being traded in 2002 in the preseason to the Browns, Heiden made Cleveland his final destination in the NFL. In eight seasons in Cleveland, Heiden started 70 of his 106 games played, catching 187 passes for 1,602 yards with 12 touchdowns.
He hit his prime in the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Browns. In 2004, he set a career-high with five touchdown receptions while establishing new highs of 28 catches for 287 yards and a 10.3 average. In his five touchdown season, Heiden caught three in one game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
The next year, Heiden would haul in 43 catches for 401 yards which would remain his career-highs until he retired following the 2009 season. That year, he caught his career long pass of 62 yards.
In his 11-year professional career, Heiden played in 148 career games (83 starts) with 201 catches, 1,689 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He is a native of Rushford, Minn. and one of 29 players in South Dakota State's history to be chosen in the NFL Draft, and the last from SDSU's Division II-era.
