The start of mandatory minicamp didn't come without a little bit of drama. While every player on the roster was in attendance, like Joey Porter Jr., Nick Herbig did not participate in drills in which the media was permitted to shoot video or take pictures.
Like Porter, Herbig refused to classify anything he did on Tuesday as a traditional hold-in, a tactic players use to establish leverage and preserve health amid contract negotiations.
"I'm just out here on the field working, getting right, getting ready for the season," Herbig said after Tuesday's minicamp session at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
While Herbig was definitely on the field on Tuesday, there's no doubt he intentionally sat out for multiple drills:
GREG MACAFEE / DKPS
Nick Herbig watches a drill during Tuesday's minicamp session on the South Side.
While Herbig's message and actions aren't exactly aligned, his stance on what he wants out of any contract extension is most definitely clear.
"It's my desire to be a Steeler for life," Herbig said.
It's a difficult line to ride for a young player, even more so for a player such as Herbig who's not a traditional starter. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the two starters at outside linebacker for the Steelers, and nothing suggests either player is about to be benched for Herbig.
Herbig's gone from a fourth-round pick in 2023 to a player that bested Watt in pressure rate and matched Highsmith with a team-high 45 pressures in 2025. If you're the Steelers, you absolutely approach Herbig about an extension. But, from Herbig's perspective, why sign an extension here? Other than money, what's the incentive, especially if there's no guaranteed starting spot?
"I wouldn't call myself not a starter. I would just say I'm a team guy," Herbig said. "If you need me to play off the ball, on the ball, to run down on punt ... I'm a Steeler. There's no starters and backups, I'm a Steeler."
That's an attitude the team loves to have. And if there's a way the Steelers can keep Herbig in the fold along with Watt and Highsmith, that's great for a very deep group at outside linebacker.
Of course, it's a long summer. There's plenty of time to get an extension ironed out. If it's not done at minicamp or over the break between OTAs and training camp, it'll be interesting to see how the rest of this unfolds.
And regardless of what titles Herbig uses or doesn't use to describe his approach to negotiations, he's taking a healthy approach to it.
"Business is business. I'm a football player. I'm here for football," Herbig said. "I try to keep business separated from football as much as I can."
THE ASYLUM
Minicamp: Herbig wants to be 'Steeler for life'
The start of mandatory minicamp didn't come without a little bit of drama. While every player on the roster was in attendance, like Joey Porter Jr., Nick Herbig did not participate in drills in which the media was permitted to shoot video or take pictures.
Like Porter, Herbig refused to classify anything he did on Tuesday as a traditional hold-in, a tactic players use to establish leverage and preserve health amid contract negotiations.
"I'm just out here on the field working, getting right, getting ready for the season," Herbig said after Tuesday's minicamp session at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
While Herbig was definitely on the field on Tuesday, there's no doubt he intentionally sat out for multiple drills:
GREG MACAFEE / DKPS
Nick Herbig watches a drill during Tuesday's minicamp session on the South Side.
While Herbig's message and actions aren't exactly aligned, his stance on what he wants out of any contract extension is most definitely clear.
"It's my desire to be a Steeler for life," Herbig said.
It's a difficult line to ride for a young player, even more so for a player such as Herbig who's not a traditional starter. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the two starters at outside linebacker for the Steelers, and nothing suggests either player is about to be benched for Herbig.
Herbig's gone from a fourth-round pick in 2023 to a player that bested Watt in pressure rate and matched Highsmith with a team-high 45 pressures in 2025. If you're the Steelers, you absolutely approach Herbig about an extension. But, from Herbig's perspective, why sign an extension here? Other than money, what's the incentive, especially if there's no guaranteed starting spot?
"I wouldn't call myself not a starter. I would just say I'm a team guy," Herbig said. "If you need me to play off the ball, on the ball, to run down on punt ... I'm a Steeler. There's no starters and backups, I'm a Steeler."
That's an attitude the team loves to have. And if there's a way the Steelers can keep Herbig in the fold along with Watt and Highsmith, that's great for a very deep group at outside linebacker.
Of course, it's a long summer. There's plenty of time to get an extension ironed out. If it's not done at minicamp or over the break between OTAs and training camp, it'll be interesting to see how the rest of this unfolds.
And regardless of what titles Herbig uses or doesn't use to describe his approach to negotiations, he's taking a healthy approach to it.
"Business is business. I'm a football player. I'm here for football," Herbig said. "I try to keep business separated from football as much as I can."
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