Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig just made it clear where he stands with the team’s top pass rushers. Speaking on Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast, Herbig lit up when the conversation turned to playing alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The Quote That Has Steelers Nation Buzzing
“The three of us together now on the field all distractions aside we can just ball out and have fun out there. I’m excited bro. We have some nice things cooking up. Those are my guys.” — Nick Herbig on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, June 10, 2026
You could hear the smile in his voice. No media training filter. Just a guy who got paid and immediately pointed straight at his teammates.
Contract News and the Real Story Behind the Words
Herbig signed a four-year, $100 million extension earlier this week, with $42 million guaranteed. The deal runs through 2030 and locks in a player who broke out with 7.5 sacks last season. That kind of money always sparks questions about snap counts and roster math, especially with two established edge rushers already on the roster.
Herbig didn’t dance around it. He went straight at the noise.
“All distractions aside” wasn’t a throwaway line. It was a direct signal that whatever contract chatter or roster speculation existed, the three edge players have already moved past it. They’re sharing the field in practice right now — OTAs and minicamp work — and the early returns sound promising.
What “Nice Things Cooking Up” Actually Means
When Herbig says the group has “some nice things cooking up,” he’s not just talking about individual talent. He’s talking about timing, communication, and coordinated pressure packages that only develop when three capable rushers trust each other.
Watt remains the standard. Highsmith brings steady production and veteran savvy. Herbig adds another explosive element that forces offenses to account for multiple threats on every snap. Rotate them, line them up together on obvious passing downs, or use them in sub packages — the flexibility is real.
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Steelers defenses have always thrived on that kind of depth and attitude. When the guys up front genuinely like each other and play for one another, the whole front seven plays faster. Opposing quarterbacks feel it by the third quarter.
The Human Element: Brotherhood Over Business
Herbig’s journey makes the quote hit different. He spent his first few seasons carving out a rotational role behind established stars. Now he’s the one cashing in — and the first thing out of his mouth is praise for the two veterans he’ll share the edge with.
That’s not an accident. It’s the culture Mike Tomlin has built for years. Players who get paid and then publicly lift up their teammates send a powerful message to the rest of the locker room and to the fans who live and die with this team every Sunday.
Cam Heyward hosting the conversation added another layer. A longtime Steelers leader sitting across from a younger player who just got paid and chose to talk about “my guys” instead of himself — that’s the kind of moment that sticks.
Why This Matters for 2026
The Steelers enter the season with legitimate expectations on defense. A pass rush that stays fresh because of quality depth, communicates on the fly, and plays with genuine joy is a nightmare for offensive lines. Herbig’s comments suggest that group is already forming.
No one is guaranteed anything in this league. Contracts get signed, roles shift, and production has to be earned every year. But right now, the three edge rushers who will wear the black and gold in 2026 are on the same page.
Herbig said it best: those are his guys. And from the sound of it, the feeling is mutual.
