Nate Herbig

Nate Herbig's Biography

Born on July 10, 1998 in Lihue, Hawaii, Nathaniel William Herbig, often recognized as Nate Herbig, is a well-known professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). He currently holds the position of offensive guard for the reputable Pittsburgh Steelers. But before reaching this point in his career, Herbig underwent a fascinating journey of growth, determination, and resilience.

Growing up, Herbig began his early life in Kalaheo, Hawaii. His affinity and passion for football began to take shape during his time in high school. His family moved from Kauai to Oahu after his freshman year so that Herbig could attend the Saint Louis School located in Honolulu. It is there that Herbig’s potential in football began to truly shine. His remarkable performance during his senior year gained recognition as he was named first-team All-State.

Encouraged by his high school success, Herbig made the decision to play college football at Stanford after his junior year. This commitment, however, was short-lived, as he ended up de-committing and re-opening his recruitment shortly after his senior season. This journey of hesitant commitment came to an end when Herbig ultimately re-committed to Stanford, after contemplation over offers from California and Washington universities.

Herbig spent three seasons playing for the Stanford Cardinals. His freshman year saw him participate in all thirteen of Stanford’s games with six noteworthy starts at the left guard position. For his remarkable performance, ESPN named him a freshman All-American. In his sophomore year, Herbig shifted to the position of right guard, making thirteen starts, and earning the honor of first-team in the All-Pac-12 Conference.

The junior year brought along some health challenges for Herbig. Even though he managed to secure the prestigious title of second-team All-Pac-12 after making six starts at right guard and one at right tackle, he unfortunately had to sit out six games due to injuries. Prompted by this injury-marred season, Herbig made the difficult decision to forgo his final year of college to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Despite being initially projected as a mid-round pick, Herbig’s draft status waned considerably after his less than stellar performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, which included a 40-yard dash time of 5.41 seconds, the slowest amongst all 260 participants. Consequently, he went unselected during the 2019 NFL draft.

However, his journey in the world of professional football took a turn when the Philadelphia Eagles signed Herbig as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2019. Herbig made his NFL debut against the Washington Redskins on December 15, 2019, and played in only two games during his rookie season. The following 2020 season saw Herbig garner increased presence on the field as he started in 12 out of 15 games.

In 2021, when the Eagles faced injuries to their starting guards, Herbig seized the opportunity to fill the vacant slots. He appeared in 16 games and started five.

However, his journey with the Eagles came to an end when on March 15, 2022, the Eagles offered a restricted free agent tender, which Herbig accepted, only to be waived off by the team shortly afterwards on May 4 that same year. On May 5, 2022, Herbig was claimed off the waivers by the New York Jets. The subsequent 2022 season witnessed Herbig play and start in 11 games, but an unfortunate injury led him to be placed on injured reserve.

Herbig entered another exciting chapter in his career on March 16, 2023, by signing a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, in August 2024, he suffered a torn rotator cuff, effectively ending his season.

Herbig’s love for football runs deep in his family. Not only did his father, Bruce Herbig, play football and basketball at Lewis & Clark College, but his grandfather also played football at Wheaton College in Illinois. His younger brother, Nick, currently stands as his teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers, having played as a linebacker at Wisconsin.

Nate Herbig’s story is one of persistence, growth and the will to overcome challenges, testament to his place in the prestigious world of American professional football.