Sources: Steelers sign edge rusher Nick Herbig to a lucrative long-term extension

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 2, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers and outside linebacker Nick Herbig on Tuesday agreed to a stunning new contract worth $103.67 million over five years, sources told the Post-Gazette. The deal includes $42 million guaranteed.

It is a whopping amount for a player who is not technically considered a starter, as it makes Herbig the 14th-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL in terms of total value. His guaranteed money ranks 22nd in the league.

With Herbig’s new deal, the Steelers are now paying their three top outside linebackers — T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Herbig — a total of $304 million on their current deals.

Now, the question remains: Can the Steelers give cornerback Joey Porter Jr. a new contract, as well?

Earlier in the day, after the first practice of the three-day minicamp and before the Post-Gazette learned of his new deal, Herbig said, “My desire is to be a Steeler for life.”

He’s now well on his way.

Herbig, who was scheduled to earn $3.674 million in salary in the final year of his rookie contract, has slowly evolved into a disruptive pass rusher despite playing behind Watt and Highsmith.

A fourth-round pick in 2023, he has 16 career sacks, 32 quarterbacks hits, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

“I wouldn’t call myself not a starter,” said Herbig, who was in uniform Tuesday but spent most of the day wearing a baseball cap as the Steelers and his agency finalized the new agreement. “I would just say I’m a team guy. I’m a Steeler. There are no starters or backups.”

As for Porter, he said Tuesday that he feels he proved last season that he is one of the elite cornerbacks in the NFL and wants to be paid like one. He is looking like a player who might take the Watt and Cam Heyward approach and be a “hold-in” during minicamp until a new deal is done.

Sources have told the Post-Gazette that Herbig’s deal, coupled with the signings of kicker Chris Boswell and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will not have any effect on the Steelers’ ability to give Porter a new contract.

“We’ll see,” Porter said Tuesday after practice. “I want to be out there. Everybody knows I want to be out there. So I’m just doing everything I can and taking it day by day.”

After a slow start and being the team’s most penalized player in 2025, he came on late in the season to be one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL and finished the season with 14 passes defensed.

Porter is in the final year of his rookie contract and will count $4.92 million against the salary cap. Right now, 77 cornerbacks have a higher annual salary than Porter, who will make $2.404 million in 2026. That includes teammates Jalen Ramsey, Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols.

If he gets a new deal, Porter would be something of a Steelers rarity — a drafted cornerback who received a second contract.

“I feel like I was an elite guy since I’ve been in this league and I’m happy that I’m getting the respect that I feel like I’m owed,” Porter said.

New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had plans to use Herbig even more in the Steelers’ defense, something they showed in OTAs during their pressure drills.

A significant indication the Steelers intended to sign Herbig was when coach Mike McCarthy made a point to have lunch with him two months ago while attending the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

“Just the fact he took the time out of his busy schedule to invite me to have lunch with him meant the world to me,” Herbig said.

After 20 years in the league, McCarthy said he is understanding of the professional and personal sides of each player.

“We all have contracts, so when those things occur, they really just put that into a business category,” McCarthy said. “I’ve been dealing with it for 20 years, and it’s the same advice I’ve always given: ‘It’s a business situation. Do the things you need to do.’ ”

Then he added: “But in Nick’s case, he's been in constant communication with us. He’s done the things necessary, but he’s been in a business situation. I think it’s no different than any of our players. You just separate that. This is an important time in their lives.”

The Steelers have seen several of their star players stage “hold-ins” over the years while waiting on a new contract, including Watt in 2021 and Heyward last season.

Watt was a hold-in for both minicamp and training camp, showing up but not doing any team work. Heyward did the same last summer at training camp and threatened to miss regular season games if he didn’t get a new deal.

Herbig looked as though he might be next, but it doesn’t matter now.

“I’m just here getting right for the season — getting ready, keeping my body in shape, staying ready to go,” Herbig said. “Business is business. I’m a football player. I’m here for football. I try to keep business separated from football as much as I can.”