PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Minutes after outside linebacker Nick Herbig answered questions about his future on Tuesday, being pretty tight-lipped, Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette and others reported, Herbig agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension ($42 million guaranteed).
The 25-year-old was going into the final year of his rookie contract and coming off career-highs. In 15 games in 2025 the 24-year-old had his most sacks, 7.5 along with three forced fumbles, 13 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hits. He did that playing the most defensive snaps he’s played, 60%. Part of that was due to Alex Highsmith’s injuries and TJ Watt missing three games.
Maybe in a tipoff to the Steelers at least closing in on a deal, head coach Mike McCarthy said before practice there is a role for Herbig and they will highlight packages for the fourth-year LB. Some of that role is being developed with a new coaching staff and Herbig said he’s all-in for experimentation.
“Whatever they want, whatever they ask of me, you know, I'm a big team guy,” Herbig said after mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday. “I'm a Steeler man. I bleed black and gold. So whatever Coach McCarthy and Patrick Graham and my coach ask of me, I'm willing to do.”
How do you use a third outside linebacker? Can you start three outside linebackers?
Even Herbig wasn’t exactly sure to say when asked if he’s a starter on this defense?
“I would say I wouldn't call myself not a starter, you know, I would just say I'm a team guy If you need me to play off the ball on the ball, need me to run down on a punt, I'm at Steeler. You know, there's no starters and backups. I'm a Steeler.”
That contract means the Steelers, adding average salary, would pay their top three outside linebackers $88.1 million next season according to overthecap.com (Watt $42 million, Highsmith $21.1 million, Herbig $25 million).
“Change isn't always bad,” Herbig said, noting he’s excited to work with this coaching staff.
“I'm not putting a knock on anything we've done before or anything we're doing now but like I said change isn't always bad and you know there's some new wrinkles and things so I'm excited to get to work on it.”
Herbig said he loves it here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Now he’ll be here through the turn of the decade.
“It’s my desire to be a Steeler for life,” Herbig said.
24-year-old had $7.5 sacks in 2025, team has big money in top 3 OLB
24-year-old had $7.5 sacks in 2025, team has big money in top 3 OLB
