The Result Carries Weight
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed edge rusher Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension that includes $42 million guaranteed, the team confirmed Tuesday. The deal makes Herbig the first non-quarterback in league history to secure a nine-figure contract without having started an entire NFL season.
Across his first three professional seasons, Herbig has logged 45 appearances with just 11 starts—never more than six in a single year. He ranks third on the depth chart behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The numbers are doing most of the announcement work here, which is usually how teams prefer it.
"I wouldn't call myself 'not a starter,'" Herbig told reporters. "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 a punt, I'm a Steeler. There's no starters and backups. I'm a Steeler."
The Moment That Swung It
That attitude is now worth $100 million. The financial commitment signals how the Steelers value rotational flexibility in their pass-rushing rotation, even when the player in question has never been a full-time starter.
T.J. Watt is set to earn $32 million fully guaranteed this season—a figure that reflects his status as the crown jewel of Pittsburgh's defensive front. Meanwhile, Highsmith's $14.5 million scheduled pay for 2026 is non-guaranteed, and he has just two years remaining on his current deal. The math creates an uncomfortable truth: Highsmith is now the lowest earner among the three despite holding a starting role.
The extension caps a productive two-year stretch for Herbig. He increased his sack totals in each of the past two seasons and posted career highs in 2025 with 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hits. The jump in production made him impossible to let walk in free agency, even without the traditional starter pedigree.
The Race Tightens
Hours before the extension was announced, Herbig told reporters his goal was "to be a Steeler for life." The deal achieves that, but it may force the organization into a difficult decision on Highsmith sooner than expected. With only two starting spots available and three players worth significant money, someone will likely be the odd man out.