Forged In Steel Times – The Next in the Line of Legends: Steelers Lock In Nick Herbig for Four More Years

PITTSBURGH – In a franchise built on edge rushers, where greatness is not the exception but the expectation, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move this week that sent a clear message to the locker room, the division, and the entire league. The black and gold have identified their next rising star on the edge, and they are not letting him go anywhere.

The Steelers have officially extended Nick Herbig to a four year deal worth 43.57 million dollars, securing a player who has rapidly evolved from rotational spark plug to foundational piece within the NFL’s most storied pass rushing dynasty.

And if there is one thing that defines success in Pittsburgh, it is this:

Elite edge play.

From James Harrison
From LaMarr Woodley to T.J. Watt
From outsiders to icons

The line of succession is sacred.

Now, it is Nick Herbig’s turn to chase greatness.

A Deal Rooted in Belief, Development, and Projection

The contract itself tells the story. Four years. Over forty three million dollars. Those are not the numbers of a depth piece or situational pass rusher. Those are the numbers of a player the organization believes will become a future cornerstone of the defense.

Herbig has earned every penny through relentless effort, consistent improvement, and flashes of brilliance that the coaching staff refuses to ignore. His ability to impact the game from multiple alignments, whether standing up on the edge, sliding inside in sub fronts, or dropping as a disguised zone defender, gives Pittsburgh an invaluable chess piece.

He is the type of player who grows year after year, rep by rep, snap by snap.

A contract like this is not just about what he has done.

It is about what he will become.

Growing in the Shadow of Giants

Playing in Pittsburgh as an edge rusher means two things:

You will learn from the best.
You will be expected to become the best.

Herbig has spent his early career studying under T.J. Watt, one of the greatest defensive players of this generation. He practices next to Alex Highsmith, a technician who built himself from a late round hopeful into one of the league’s most complete edge defenders.

When young players fall into the right environment, growth accelerates.
When young players embrace the expectation, transformation begins.

Herbig is at the center of that transformation.

Coaches rave about his motor, his drive, and his willingness to absorb every detail that Watt and Highsmith throw at him. His film preparation has taken a leap. His discipline in run fits has tightened. His burst off the line has sharpened, and his hand usage continues to improve each week.

He is turning traits into skills.
He is turning potential into production.
He is turning flashes into foundation.

The Steelers Know What Is Coming

The Steelers do not hand out extensions lightly. When they do, it is because they see something — not in a player’s highlight reel, but in how they approach the craft.

Nick Herbig has the markers that the Steelers value most:

Relentless effort
Coachability
Versatility across the front
Explosive first step
Finishing ability around the quarterback
High football character
Team first mentality

These are the traits that built the Steel Curtain. These are the traits that turned Harrison into a legend. These are the traits that pushed Watt into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation every season.

When the Steelers identify an edge rusher with these tools, they do not hesitate.

They invest.
They develop.
They elevate.

Herbig’s Path to Stardom

Herbig’s rise has not been defined by one breakout game or a sudden surge of sacks. Instead, it has been built through steady elevation in every phase of play.

His run defense has taken a major step forward. His pursuit angles have improved, and he has developed a strong understanding of leverage and backside contain responsibilities.

As a pass rusher, Herbig’s get off has always been his calling card. But this season, his repertoire has expanded. He is no longer relying solely on speed. He has added inside counters, improved bull rush technique, and a much more refined ability to convert speed to power.

His pass rush maturity is beginning to mirror what the great Steelers edges developed as they evolved in the system.

And that is where this contract extension becomes more than just a business decision.

It becomes a projection of stardom.

The Future of Pittsburgh’s Pass Rush

With Herbig locked in, the Steelers now have long term stability at a position that defines the franchise. T.J. Watt continues to terrorize offensive coordinators. Alex Highsmith remains one of the most well rounded and reliable edge defenders in football. And behind them sits Herbig, growing, learning, and sharpening his tools.

This trio gives the Steelers the rare advantage of sustainability. When other teams fear the day their stars decline or depart, Pittsburgh has ensured that the edge position will remain elite for years to come.

Herbig is the bridge between eras.
He is next in line.
And the Steelers know it.

A Statement to the Locker Room and the League

Extensions like this echo far beyond the negotiation room. They send a message to every player in the building:

If you commit to this team, if you embrace the culture, if you give everything you have, the Steelers will believe in you.

Herbig has become a symbol of that commitment.

To the league, it sends another message:

The Steelers are not rebuilding.
They are reloading.
And their defense is preparing for another decade of dominance.

The Final Word

Nick Herbig came into Pittsburgh with potential.

He has developed into a weapon.

Now, he is being paid like a future star.

And if the trajectory continues, if the growth compounds, if the lessons from Watt and Highsmith solidify into mastery, then Herbig could very well become the next elite Steelers edge rusher and another name in the long line of legends who built their legacy in black and gold.

A four year window has opened.
Forty three point five seven million reasons have been given.
Now the journey continues.

– Forged In Steel Times