Steve Heiden enters his second season with the New York Jets as the offensive line coach. An 11-year NFL veteran tight end, 2026 marks his 14th year coaching in the NFL after previously serving in various roles with Detroit and Arizona.

In his first season with the Jets (2025), Heiden helped guide a top-10 rushing unit, finishing the season with the most rushing yards per game by a Jets offense since 2014 (123.3) and paving the way for running back Breece Hall's first 1,000-yard season, the first by a Jets back since 2015. Behind the offensive line, the Jets averaged 4.6 yards per carry, a top-10 mark in the lLeague and the third-best average in franchise history.

Heiden was instrumental in the development of rookie offensive lineman Armand Membou, who allowed one or fewer pressures in nine games, the most by a rookie tackle on the year and tied for the second-most over the last five seasons. Additionally Joe Tippmann, who won the center competiton in training camp, switched to right guard after an injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker and recorded seven games with one or less pressure allowed, one of only 10 right guards in the league with at least seven such games. The starting group of Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Josh Myers, Tippmann, and Membou started all 17 games together, becoming the first NFL team to start the same offensive line combination in every game since 2023, and the first Jets team to accomplish the feat since 2012.

As the tight ends coach in two seasons with Detroit (2023-24), Heiden guided tight end Sam LaPorta to the most receptions by a tight end in their first two seasons in NFL history (146). LaPorta also became just the fourth tight end since 1970 to total 1,600+ receiving yards in his first two seasons, joining George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham. In 2023, LaPorta established a then-NFL record for the most receptions by a rookie tight end (86), and also set the rookie franchise records by a tight end in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Heiden spent the first 10 seasons of his NFL coaching career with Arizona in a variety of roles, ultimately finishing as the tight ends coach (2019-22). He was elevated to offensive line coach for the final six games of 2022, as the line paved the way for running back James Conner to average 78.0 rushing yards per game, the fifth-highest mark in the League.

As tight ends coach in 2021, Heiden helped tight end Zach Ertz tie a then-single-season record for receptions by a Cardinals tight end, despite only playing 11 games with the team after a midseason trade.

In 2020, the Arizona offense finished in the top 10 in total offense, rushing offense, total touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns. Tight end Dan Arnold became the first Cardinals tight end to record 400+ receiving yards and four+ touchdowns in a single season in over a decade.

As an assistant in 2015, the Cardinals led the league in total offense, while ranking second in passing offense, and eighth in rushing offense. It marked the first time in franchise history the team finished with the top ranked offense in the NFL as they set single-season franchise records for points, touchdowns, yards, and first downs.

Heiden began his coaching career at Concordia University (2012) as the tight ends coach before transitioning to the NFL. A former third-round pick by the Chargers in the 1999 NFL Draft, Heiden played 11 seasons in the NFL with San Diego and Cleveland, totaling 201 receptions for 1,689 yards and 14 touchdowns.

A native of Rushford, MN, Heiden played four seasons at South Dakota State (1995-98), finishing his college career eighth in program history with 112 receptions and 1,499 receiving yards. He was a team captain as a senior (1998) and was recognized as a second-team All-American after leading the team in receptions (46), receiving yards (742), and touchdowns (five). He was inducted into the South Dakota State Hall of Fame in 2020.

Heiden and his wife, Jessica, have two daughters, Madison, and Presley, and a son, Walker.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2025-Present

Offensive Line 2025-Present

Detroit Lions 2023-24

Tight Ends 2023-24

Arizona Cardinals 2013-22

Interim Offensive Line 2022

Tight Ends 2019-22

Assistant Offensive Line 2018

Asst. Special Teams & Asst. Tight Ends 2013-17

Concordia University 2012

Tight Ends 2012

PLAYING CAREER

Cleveland Browns (TE) 2002-09

San Diego Chargers (TE) 1999-01

South Dakota State (TE) 1995-98