Steelers' TJ Watt Had To Walk Nick Herbig Through How To Celebrate After Big Strip Sack Against Seahawks

The Pittsburgh Steelers came up with a huge win on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. Playoff hopes wouldn't have been completely erased with a loss, but it would have taken a Week 18 miracle to sneak into the tournament. The team still has work to do and needs some help in the final week of the 2023 regular season, however. Many marked the campaign as over after three straight December losses led to a 7-7 record. A huge divisional battle with the Baltimore Ravens could be the reason why, or why not, the organization gets a bid to the postseason.

Many players contributed in the Steelers' victory over Seattle. The first names that come to a lot of people's minds will likely be Mason Rudolph and George Pickens, and deservedly so. An unsung hero emerged late in the fourth quarter, however. Nick Herbig exploded into the backfield and strip-sacked Geno Smith. He fell on the ball and the turn of events allowed Pittsburgh to take control of possession in Seahawks' territory. It led to a field goal and a 10-point lead.

TJ Watt, who went to the University of Wisconsin like Herbig, spoke to the media on Tuesday and expressed his jubilation for the rookie edge rusher's big moment. He really wanted him to soak in the moment, but from experience, he knows that Herbig blacked out.

"Those like first big plays of your career for those first couple years, I've talked about it a lot, you black out. You don't really know what's going on. You're so excited. You have so much emotion." 

Herbig was so lost in what was going on that his teammate, who has experienced dozens of those occurrences in the NFL, had to help him out. Watt actually walked Herbig through the celebration after the massive play.

"So I was just trying to coach him through the moment. 'Hey let's hit the handshake real quick, let's have some fun.' And then he was just kind of running over and I was like, 'All the cameras are over here, let's go over here.' I was kind of like walking him through the process of the whole thing."

This is some awesome inside information from Watt and gives the fan base an idea of just how close the edge rushers' room is. The two of them, along with Alex Highsmith, are constantly getting excited for each other's successes. The team's 2023 MVP helped out the young kid during the biggest moment of his young career.

Watt also talked about the amount of effort Herbig has put into getting better since he was drafted by the organization. Watt's expecting him to continue to make game-changing plays for the franchise moving forward.

"It's a euphoric feeling. It really is. You know how much work he's put in... When that feeling [has] paid off and you get home and you're able to make a huge play, it's an addictive feeling and I'm glad he got a taste of it and he continues to strive to do that more for us."

Pittsburgh is in good hands when it comes to the edge rusher position. There are huge advantages to having three guys that can play consistently on any given down. It allows the trio to keep their legs fresh and take a breather when needed. Herbig is stuck behind two studs, but drafting him was expected to bring depth and it has done just that.

Steelers' Rookies Have Been Fantastic In 2023

Herbig isn't the only rookie who has stepped up throughout the season. Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, and even Darnell Washington have provided a ton of hope for the future. The next step is getting the group some playoff experience. The first piece to that puzzle will be defeating the Ravens on the road in Week 18.