Nicholas Herbig Bio
Nicholas Herbig is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 240 pounds, Herbig has quickly developed into a disruptive pass rusher and a key contributor on the Steelers defense.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Herbig carries Hawaiian, Japanese, and Okinawan heritage and has been active on social media, where he shares updates about his career and personal life. His older brother, Nate Herbig, is a former NFL offensive guard, giving the young linebacker a direct family connection to professional football.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Herbig was born on November 21, 2001, in Kauai, Hawaii. He grew up in the Hawaiian Islands and attended Saint Louis School in Oahu, Hawaii, one of the state’s most respected football programs. The school has produced several notable college and professional players, and it gave Herbig a strong platform to develop his skills as a linebacker and edge rusher.
Coming from a football family, Herbig was exposed to the sport at a young age. His older brother, Nate Herbig, went on to play offensive guard in the NFL, which helped shape Nicholas’s understanding of the game from both sides of the ball. Herbig is of partial Japanese, Okinawan, and Native Hawaiian descent, a background he has spoken about as a source of pride.
During his time at Saint Louis School, Herbig emerged as a highly recruited prospect. He ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Wisconsin, choosing the Badgers for their tradition of developing defensive players and the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten Conference.
Path to American Football
Herbig arrived at the University of Wisconsin in 2020 and immediately made an impact. As a true freshman, he started all seven games of the pandemic-shortened season, recording 26 tackles and one sack. That early production signaled his potential as a future NFL defender.
Herbig returned as a starter in 2021 and elevated his game, finishing the season with 61 tackles and nine sacks. His combination of size, speed, and instincts made him one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the Big Ten.
In 2022, Herbig became the top playmaker on the Wisconsin defense. He posted 47 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and two pass breakups in 11 games. His sack total tied for sixth in the FBS, and his performance earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team Associated Press All-American recognition. Following that breakout season, he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Nicholas Herbig Career
Early Career (2023)
Herbig was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, with the 132nd overall pick. He signed his rookie contract shortly afterward and joined a Steelers defense looking to add young pass-rushing talent. The Steelers had coincidentally signed his older brother, Nate Herbig, an offensive guard, in March 2023, reuniting the brothers in Pittsburgh.
Herbig made his first NFL start in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, finishing the game with one assisted tackle. As the season progressed, he recorded his first professional sack on October 22, 2023, against Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. He appeared in 17 games as a rookie, finishing with three sacks, 27 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Herbig’s rookie season ended in the AFC Wild Card round, where the Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills 31–17. Despite the loss, his flashes of pass-rush ability and special teams value positioned him for a larger role in his second year.
In 2024, Herbig opened the season in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons with one tackle. He continued to grow as a rotational edge rusher and on November 17, 2024, he forced a fumble on Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, the first fumble Henry had lost in 538 touches. Herbig finished his second season with 22 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles across 415 defensive snaps and 174 special teams snaps.
Herbig’s second postseason appearance came in the AFC Wild Card round, where the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens 28–14. Even without recording a statistic, he remained a part of the defensive and special teams rotation.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2023–Present)
Since being drafted, Herbig has remained with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he has steadily developed into one of the team’s most reliable young defenders. He has been a consistent presence on both defense and special teams, contributing tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles while continuing to refine his technique as a pass rusher.
On June 2, 2026, Herbig signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Steelers, cementing his long-term role with the franchise. The deal reflected his growth into a key piece of Pittsburgh’s defensive front.
Driving Style and Strengths
Herbig is known for his quick first step, relentless motor, and ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks from the edge. He pairs natural pass-rush instincts with strong tackling fundamentals and disciplined play against the run. His versatility allows the Steelers to use him in various defensive packages, and his production in forced fumbles and sacks has become a defining element of his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Herbig’s most notable moments is his November 2024 forced fumble on Derrick Henry, ending a long streak of touches without a fumble. He also recorded his first career sack against Matthew Stafford in 2023 and was part of Steelers teams that reached the playoffs in each of his first two NFL seasons.
Nicholas Herbig Career Wins
While linebackers are typically measured by tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles rather than win totals, Herbig has been part of multiple winning seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has contributed to playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024 and signed a major contract extension that reflects his continued value to the team.
NFL Highlights
Through his first two NFL seasons, Herbig recorded 8.0 sacks, 49 total tackles, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one interception, two pass deflections, and one defensive touchdown. He has appeared in all 17 regular-season games in both 2023 and 2024 and has played in two postseason contests. His first career sack came against the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and his most recent signature play came against the Baltimore Ravens in November 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Herbig earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American honors in 2022, capping a three-year career at Wisconsin in which he tallied 23 sacks across 32 games. He also helped Saint Louis School compete at a high level in Hawaii high school football.
Nicholas Herbig Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nicholas Herbig comes from a football family. His older brother, Nate Herbig, is a former NFL offensive guard who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March 2023, the same team that drafted Nicholas. The two brothers have spoken about the unique experience of playing on the same NFL roster.
Personal Life
Herbig is of partial Japanese, Okinawan, and Native Hawaiian descent and remains proud of his Hawaiian roots. He maintains an active presence on social media, where he engages with fans and shares updates about his career. He was born and raised in Hawaii and continues to represent the islands in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Herbig was expected to take on an expanded role within the Steelers defense. After a strong 2024 campaign that included four forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hits, he was positioned as a key rotational pass rusher and core special teams player. His continued growth was a major storyline for Pittsburgh’s defensive front.
Through the early part of the 2025 season, Herbig’s production trended upward, building on his reputation as a disruptive edge presence. His combination of tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles contributed to a Steelers defense that remained competitive in the AFC playoff picture.
With a four-year, $100 million contract extension signed in 2026, Herbig’s 2025 performance helped lay the foundation for his long-term future in Pittsburgh. He continued to be a focal point of the team’s pass-rush plans and a leader among the Steelers’ young defensive core.
