University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Four Pitt Greats Named to 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
6/1/2026 11:08:00 AM | Football
Matt Cavanaugh, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, Antonio Bryant and Jackie Sherrill among this year’s nominees
PITTSBURGH–Pitt will be represented on the 2027 National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame ballot by former players Matt Cavanaugh, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward and Antonio Bryant, as well as former head coach Jackie Sherrill.
Cavanaugh started for the Panthers from 1975-77, leading the program to three bowl victories and the 1976 National Championship. In 1977, he completed 87-of-151 passes for 1,457 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn First Team All-America honors. Cavanaugh was also named MVP of both the 1977 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia and the 1978 Gator Bowl.
Heyward played for Pitt from 1985-87 and authored one of the finest rushing seasons in school history as a senior. In 1987, he carried 357 times for 1,791 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 21 receptions for 198 yards and another score. A consensus All-American and fifth-place finisher in Heisman Trophy voting, Heyward's rushing total remains the third-highest single-season mark in Pitt history. He concluded his career with 3,086 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, ranking among the top rushers in program history.
Heyward passed away in 2006 at the age of 39. His sons, Cameron and Connor, have both followed in his footsteps to the NFL and currently play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.
Bryant starred at Pitt from 1999-2001 and established himself as one of the most dynamic receivers in college football. A consensus First Team All-American in 2000, he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver after catching 68 passes for 1,302 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bryant finished his Pitt career with 176 receptions for 3,271 yards and 21 touchdowns, ranking among the most productive receivers in school history.
Former Pitt head coach Jackie Sherrill is also eligible for the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Sherrill led the Panthers from 1977-81, compiling a 50-9-1 record and the highest winning percentage (.842) in school history.
Taking over a program fresh off its 1976 national championship, Sherrill guided Pitt to four Top-10 finishes in five seasons, including a No. 2 final ranking in 1980 and a No. 4 finish in 1981. He became the first head coach in school history to lead the Panthers to five consecutive bowl games and posted a 4-1 postseason record.
Over his final three seasons (1979-81), Pitt compiled a remarkable 33-3 record, finished among the nation's top six teams each year and went 5-1 against rivals Penn State and West Virginia. His 1980 team finished 11-1 and was ranked as high as No. 1 nationally, while his 1981 squad also went 11-1 and capped the season with a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.
Sherrill coached 11 First Team All-Americans during his Pitt tenure, including College Football Hall of Famers Hugh Green and Dan Marino. He was named the 1981 Walter Camp National Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future. The Class will be officially inducted next year during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
