Heck grew up with pro training
New offensive tackle’s father was first-round pick, won Super Bowl as Chiefs’ line coach
Growing up in Missouri, Charlie Heck didn’t have to look outside his house to learn the fundamentals of blocking.
The imposing Texans rookie offensive tackle gleaned knowledge at the dinner table and in the backyard from his father: Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck, a former starting NFL offensive lineman and first-round draft pick from Notre Dame.
Charlie, a 6-foot-8, 311-pound swing tackle, was drafted by the Texans in the fourth round after a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. Now, the former North Carolina tackle is determined to apply what he’s been taught in the NFL from his father who earned a Super Bowl ring last season with the Chiefs as his linemen were bodyguards for Pro Bowl quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I can remember, going with my dad to football games,” Charlie said. “To play for a team like the Texans, I’m still speechless right now. Football has been in my family a long time. It’s kind of been in my blood growing up.
“It will be an exciting opportunity.in our family so I was really proud of my dad last year and he’s really proud of me now. He’s excited to watch my journey and I’ll also keep up with his journey also.”
One of the tallest offensive linemen in the NFL, Heck provides size, athleticism and a huge frame with room to add bulk and strength.
Drafted 126th overall, Heck ran the 40-yard dash in 5.16 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times at the NFL scouting combine in February.
“I really do think his best ball is ahead of him,” his father said. “I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to develop really into a fine NFL offensive tackle. I’ve known all along that’s what he’s wanted. One of the things that was going on in the background is, of course, I’m evaluating offensive line and guys for the Chiefs.
“I’m aware of Charlie and I’m grading him, and as a dad, I’m like, ‘Man, we should pick this guy in the first round.’ I was trying to be realistic about that. Just imagine Charlie being here, the stress that would put on his mom. So, I wasn’t pushing hard for that at all’
Heck was named a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as a left tackle last season. He stared the previous two seasons at right tackle. He missed one game last year with a broken right hand, playing through the pain and wearing a cast. He’s fully healthy now.
“I’m really excited that he’s heading to Houston,” Andy said. “It will be fun. It sure feels like we play Houston every year and we’ve got some great battles between Houston and Kansas City going on, so it will be fun to compete against him.
“I’m so proud of Charlie. I’ve watched his development. He’s turned into this monster. He’s going to develop into a fine NFL offensive tackle”
The Texans envision having Heck learning both tackle spots behind Laremy Tunsil on the left side and Tytus Howard on the right. At this point, he’s strictly a tackle.
“I think he’s pretty much a tackle,” Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said. “I think he can play both sides. Great guy, really smart, works hard. We were thrilled to be able to go up there and get him. We were able to go up there and get a guy that we really targeted and we liked at that spot.”