Steve Heiden is a career quality starter — a tight end whose body of work places Heiden in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Heiden's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.

TECLE#82RES

Steve Heiden

Top 37% all-time TEsHigh-End StarterTwo-Way Profile

Height6'5"

Weight270 lb

BornSep 21, 1976

Age49

CollegeSouth Dakota State See College Stats

Rookie yr1999

Draft1999 · Rd 3, Pick 69 · LAC

Archetype Intelligence

High-End StarterExplore archetypes →

A quality tight end with a above-average career — a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 42 · #2286 · Above Average

Worth 42 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 50% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 4 of 10 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +10.5 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

4 cleared

6 replaced

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+10.5

Avg surplus

peak +16

4 seasons × ~10.5 surplus ≈ VORP 42

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

3 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Receiving									Defense													Advanced (EPA)
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Pass AirYd	Rec AirYd
2000	—	LAC	7	—	12	6	32	1	50.0%	5.3	2.7	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	DEN	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-3.5	0	0
2001	—	LAC	9	—	13	8	55	1	61.5%	6.9	4.2	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.7	0	0
2002	—	CLE	11	—	19	17	105	1	89.5%	6.2	5.5	—	8	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2002	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8.2	0	0
2003	—	CLE	7	—	18	18	134	0	100.0%	7.4	7.4	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003	—	LAC	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2003	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5.7	0	0
2004	—	CLE	11	—	28	28	287	5	100.0%	10.3	10.3	—	14	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2004	—	HOU	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2004	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	20.4	0	0
2005	—	CLE	15	—	43	43	401	3	100.0%	9.3	9.3	—	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	MIA	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	33.4	0	0
2006	—	CLE	15	—	36	36	249	2	100.0%	6.9	6.9	—	9	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12.8	0	95
2007	—	CLE	10	—	12	12	104	0	100.0%	8.7	8.7	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4.5	0	74
2008	—	CLE	9	—	23	23	249	0	100.0%	10.8	10.8	—	14	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2008	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	21.0	0	123
2009	—	CLE	6	—	17	10	73	1	58.8%	7.3	4.3	—	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-10.1	0	75
Career		—	106	—	221	201	1,689	14	91.0%	8.4	7.6	—	82	6	6	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	95.1	0	367

Career EPA95.1·95 receiving·9.5/season

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	VAL
2000	24	LAC	7	—	12	6	32	1	50.0%	5.3	2.7	—	2	2.6
2001	25	LAC	9	—	13	8	55	1	61.5%	6.9	4.2	—	4	3.1
2002	26	CLE	11	—	19	17	105	1	89.5%	6.2	5.5	—	8	4.6
2003	27	CLE	7	—	18	18	134	0	100.0%	7.4	7.4	—	4	2.8
2004	28	CLE	11	—	28	28	287	5	100.0%	10.3	10.3	—	14	9.1
2005	29	CLE	15	—	43	43	401	3	100.0%	9.3	9.3	—	20	10
2006	30	CLE	15	—	36	36	249	2	100.0%	6.9	6.9	—	9	7.8
2007	31	CLE	10	—	12	12	104	0	100.0%	8.7	8.7	—	4	2.6
2008	32	CLE	9	—	23	23	249	0	100.0%	10.8	10.8	—	14	4.6
2009	33	CLE	6	—	17	10	73	1	58.8%	7.3	4.3	—	3	3.2
Career			100		221	201	1,689	14	91.0%	8.4	7.6	—	82	50.4

Defense

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tkl	Solo	Sk	Dis	FR
2000	24	DEN	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2002	26	CLE	1	—	0	0	0.0	0.0	—
2003	27	LAC	2	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
2004	28	HOU	2	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
2005	29	MIA	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2006	30	CLE	1	—	0	0	0.0	0.0	—
2008	32	CLE	1	—	0	0	0.0	0.0	—
Career			9		6	6	—	—	—

Advanced (EPA)

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Rec AirYd
2000	24	—	—	—	—	—	-3.5	0
2001	25	—	—	—	—	—	2.7	0
2002	26	—	—	—	—	—	8.2	0
2003	27	—	—	—	—	—	5.7	0
2004	28	—	—	—	—	—	20.4	0
2005	29	—	—	—	—	—	33.4	0
2006	30	—	—	—	—	—	12.8	95
2007	31	—	—	—	—	—	4.5	74
2008	32	—	—	—	—	—	21.0	123
2009	33	—	—	—	—	—	-10.1	75
Career					—	—	—	367

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 52 · Solid

A solid career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 52 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 10 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 51.4 × longevity 1 = KV-H 52· confidence 95%

What builds the career mark of 47

On-field 33.8

Availability 13.2

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)

2000bestavg 452009

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Depth

of 100

Reached 13% of the all-time Receptions leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.

13% of the all-time Receptions leader13

0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0

9.51 EPA/season over 10 seasons53

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 88%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average tight ends aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

College Stats

South Dakota StateCollege listed; stat table pending import

College stats are not imported for this profile yet.

StatVault has the verified college attribution (South Dakota State), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

1999 Draft Class· this player went #69

#59Scott ShieldsDB #60Jermaine FazandeRB #61Lennie FriedmanG #62Daylon McCutcheonDB #64Doug BrzezinskiG #65Cory HallFS #67Chris WatsonDB #68Rich CoadyDB #70Jared DeVriesDE #71D'Wayne BatesWR #72Grey RuegamerG #73Joey PorterOLB #75Gary StillsLB #76Marquis SmithDB #77Brock HuardQB #78Marty BookerWR

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

Steve inherited the Cleveland Browns TE room from Aaron Shea (2000–2005), and handed it to Kellen Winslow (2004–2008).

Lawyer Tillman 1989–1993Scott Galbraith 1990–1992Brian Kinchen 1993–1995Mark Campbell 1999–2002Aaron Shea 2000–2005Steve Heiden

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

2009final season
Last recorded season with CLE
2002team change
Joined CLE (from LAC)
1999draft
Drafted by LAC — Round 3, Pick 69

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

6'5" / 270 lb

Frame

Injury History

From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.

Season	Team	Games Out	Designations
2009	CLE	0	W6Questionable· KneeW7Doubtful· KneeW8Questionable· KneeW10Questionable· Knee

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 10-season peers. See all →

peak 58

Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season

D2000

D2001

C2002

C2003

C+2004

B2005

C+2006

C2007

C+2008

F2009

Availability

Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 10 seasons.

65%

Era Translator

Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Rec Yds	Rec Yds/G	→ 2025 Rec Yds	→ 2025 /G
2000	32	4.6	107+75	6.3
2001	55	6.1	103+48	6.1
2002	105	9.5	152+47	8.9
2003	134	19.1	353+219	20.8
2004	287	26.1	497+210	29.3
2005	401	26.7	481+80	28.3
2006	249	16.6	272+23	16
2007	104	10.4	164+60	9.7
2008	249	27.7	476+227	28
2009	73	12.2	190+117	11.2

Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), nflverse:injuries, espn.com:stats-api (facts-only reference) · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

42 career value over replacement — #2286 all-time of 4,642. 4.2/season above a replacement-level TE.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #69 (Rd 3) · LAC · 1999 · +8.4 vs expected KV-H

52actual

43.6 expected · Δ+8.4

Fan Rating

Rate Steve Heiden — All-Time

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Compare Steve Heiden vs Player Report data error

Steve Heiden

Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Receiving

Defense

Advanced (EPA)

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

College Stats

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

1999 Draft Class· this player went #69

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Injury History

Knox

Era Translator