Nick Herbig signed a new five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced on June 4. The deal secures the outside linebacker as part of the team’s top trio alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith for at least two more seasons.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said of Herbig, “You can see why he has the credibility and the love in the locker room. He has an infectious personality, and it definitely fits his play style.” Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig have been key contributors to Pittsburgh’s defense over the past two seasons. With contracts extending through 2028 for Watt, 2027 for Highsmith, and now 2030 for Herbig, this group is expected to continue its impact on the field.
Watt said about their synergy, “Oh, we’re deep, obviously. Not just our room, but the defensive front as a whole is really deep, and we really care about each other, too. That’s the cool thing about this group, we’re constantly trying to help each other out. We don’t care who makes the plays, we just want to be as successful as we possibly can. We want to work together and just continue to grow. I’m just really happy with how things have started this summer.”
Herbig’s progression since joining from Wisconsin includes increasing his snap percentage from 17% as a rookie up to 60% last season while boosting his sack total from three in his first year up to seven-and-a-half most recently. He also recorded nine forced fumbles over three years along with four fumble recoveries and scored his first career touchdown last season after recovering a ball in Chicago’s end zone following a strip-sack by Watt.
The Steelers have experienced changes in their pass-rushing trios before due to injuries or salary cap constraints but now retain continuity among their leading linebackers under long-term contracts. The organization has recognized significant contributors throughout its history—including Hall of Honor inductees such as Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene—and achieved six Super Bowl championships, according to the official website.
