The Pittsburgh Steelers were pleased to see sixth-round linebacker Vince Williams become a key contributor to the defense and make a name for himself during his eight-year career. Black and gold still runs through his veins to this day, despite having his own ventures now. He may not have ever been the biggest name or the flashiest player during his time, but his ability to do anything and everything asked of him made him a fan favorite. He won't go to the Hall of Fame, but he still deserves his recognition.
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Former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) runs off the field in emphatic fashion following a road game during his NFL career.
After Williams retired, he spent a short amount of time on the Steelers' coaching staff. While making an appearance on The Standard, he detailed what he saw out of one young player on the team, and how he knew he would eventually become a household name across the NFL.
"Man, I'm extremely happy for [Nick] Herbig," Williams said. "Two years ago, I actually came, and I was the assistant defensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watching Herbig work with TJ [Watt] every single day, watch him chomping at the bit in the hours that he put in to be in a great pass rushing outside linebacker, how seriously he took it and the emotion that he played with. He was already starting to become the heart and soul for that new group, and you could see it kind of transition into that."
Edge rusher Nick Herbig was not just an overnight sensation. He has been working hard at perfecting his craft ever since he got drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has been locked in as a backup to begin each of his first three seasons, so he truly had to work to get any sort of quality playing time, and he has more than earned every snap he's gotten and then some.
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Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig wraps up Browns QB Dillon Gabriel for a sack in a 2025 regular season matchup.
Paying Herbig $100 million seemed wild at first, but when you take into account how dominant he has been in these limited reps while analyzing the rest of the edge rusher market, it's hard to complain too much about making $25 million per year. Getting more playing time should only make him look even better to everyone, and it could prove over time that he undersold himself by accepting this deal.
Williams was not assigned to work with the outside linebackers, but it didn't stop him from taking notice of this little ball of energy running around the field while learning from former Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt. He never said if he urged the Steelers to find a way to get Herbig on the field more often or not, but it would be hard to imagine that the former linebacker stayed silent after seeing what Herbig is capable of.
Steelers May Have A Future Captain On Their Hands
The most telling thing about Williams' observation is that he saw Herbig as "the heart and soul" of the young core. In the early-to-mid 2020s, the Steelers were in a time of transition due to the recent retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. There were still plenty of veterans around the team, but they truly lacked leadership: a player that everyone could rally around. They may have that player now.
Justin Guido / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers nose tackle Keeanu Benton celebrates in game with linebacker Nick Herbig against Cleveland Browns in 2025.
Watt himself is a team captain, albeit a quiet one. He likely helped teach Herbig more than just pass rush techniques while they were working out together. It will likely take a year or two, but the former fourth-round pick could easily become a captain himself when he becomes a starter. With Watt and Cameron Heyward closer to the end of their careers, someone will need to step up.
What do you think about Williams watching Herbig in practice and knowing he would be a star? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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