T.J. Watt has been where fellow linebacker Nick Herbig is. When Watt came into the league via the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30th overall pick in 2017, he was underrated and undersized. He couldn’t change the latter, but he certainly changed the first.
“Nick is so much fun because he reminds me a lot of myself,” Watt told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “It also reminds me of my relationship with my oldest brother, J.J., when it comes to football. I just want to know everything he has to tell me. And I want to try to do the best of my ability.”
Herbig, selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft (out of Wisconsin like Watt), plays bigger than his 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame. He entered the league with a chip on his shoulder, and it’s never going away.
Working with Watt, Alex Highsmith and even Steelers legend James Harrison, Herbig consistently adds tools to his arsenal.
“I’ve kind of been that person to Nick, and he’s asked so many great questions. It’s not like I’m forcing information on him. He wants the information, and he’s actually applying it. It’s so cool when we talk about a move and he goes out there in practice and does it and it’s like, wow, we just talked about doing that. We have so many fun conversations that are also very constructive on the football field.”
Watt’s impression on Herbig has been on display since his first snap in the Black and Gold, and Mike Tomlin aims to put that to use in 2024.
“We’re going to find a role for a guy like that, whether he’s a starter or not,” Tomlin said of Herbig after the Steelers August 24 preseason finale. “He’s got an opportunity to be significant.”
