Nick Herbig gives bone-chilling speech after dominant performance

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers might have something special in fourth-round rookie Nick Herbig. The outside linebacker finished his first preseason game with 1.5 sacks, and was easily the most dominant player on the field when he entered the opener in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Herbig has flashed all summer, showcasing his get-off and speed at an elite level, beating Pittsburgh’s starters Chuks Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr. on a consistent basis. He finally got a shot to prove he can put that dominance on tape during a live and didn’t disappoint.

‘I feel like I was born to be a Steeler’

Afterward, he gave the best speech of the night, and one that should have Steelers fans fired up about their new outside linebacker.

“I feel like I was born to be a Steeler,” Herbig said. “I’m supposed to be here, wearing that Black and Gold. I feel that Black and Gold running through my veins right now. It feels like exactly what God wanted for me.”

If that doesn’t get you fired up, you’re missing out. Herbig has all the makings of a dominant Steelers linebacker, is learning from two greats in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and is already feeling the black and gold in his veins.

Right now, the rookie is considered the team’s fourth outside linebacker, but he could see himself gaining ground on veteran Markus Golden for playing time. He has to continue stacking solid performances on top of each other, but with two more preseason games left, he’s got plenty of time to earn as many reps as possible as a rookie.

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This story was originally published August 13, 2023 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Nick Herbig gives bone-chilling speech after dominant performance."