Jack Sawyer's Breakout Season is Coming, According to Steelers Star

Nick Herbig is confident Jack Sawyer will make a big impact in his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During an appearance on Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast shortly after signing his four-year, $100 million extension, Herbig expressed confidence in the odds of a breakout campaign for Sawyer and revealed that the pair will work out together at Wisconsin alongside T.J. Watt before training camp begins.

"Jack's gonna have a big year. I think it's gonna be a breakout year for him. He looks good, he leaned up, looks twitchy," Herbig said. "He's coming to Wisconsin with me and T.J. this year for three weeks. I think that will be huge for him, but I expect him to have a big year."

Sep 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates a tackle against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

How Did Sawyer Perform as a Rookie?

A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after helping Ohio State win its first national title in a decade alongside Will Howard, Sawyer made his presence known over a limited sample size last year.

He appeared in all 17 games for the Steelers as a rookie, logging 294 snaps on defense (25 percent of available reps) and 340 on special teams (76 percent).

Sawyer recorded a sack and 15 pressures in 157 pass rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus, while adding 34 tackles and two interceptions.

What is Sawyer's Upside in 2026?

Even if Sawyer does take a leap and show considerable improvement from where his game stood last year, earning extra reps will be difficult as a byproduct of playing in a stacked group of EDGE rushers next to Herbig, Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Furthermore, Sawyer is lacking the true high-end athletic traits and assortment of pass rush moves to be a force going after the quarterback.

That limits his upside in that regard, but he has shined by using his strength and power to overwhelm offensive linemen, which provides him with a substantial advantage against the run.

The Steelers don't have to worry about Sawyer not giving it his all either, as he has a high motor, and his role as a key piece of the special teams unit makes him that much more invaluable.

Sawyer's a good depth piece, especially as the No. 4 option off the edge, though it's hard to predict him making much of a splash as a pass rusher given where he stands on the depth chart and the amount of work he stills needs to do in that aspect of the game.

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