Holcomb stays in Pittsburgh
The “Khan Artist” has struck yet again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and inside linebacker Cole Holcomb agreed to a revised contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Thursday. This revision will save the Steelers $4 million in cap space and keeps him in Pittsburgh for the 2025 season.
Holcomb, 29, missed the entire 2024 season rehabbing a serious knee injury suffered in November of 2023. Though he didn’t play any snaps, the Steelers did activate his 21-day practice window prior to Week 18 — a step toward a potential return to close out the season. GM Omar Khan indicated in a recent press conference that Holcomb would have been available to them if the team had made a deeper run in the playoffs.
The Steelers signed Holcomb to a three-year, $18 million contract at the start of free agency in 2023, and by most measures, it was looking like an absolute bargain. In 2023, Holcomb totaled 54 combined tackles, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 2 QB hits and 4 tackles for a loss.
Holcomb would have likely been a cap casualty if the two sides didn’t come to terms on a revised contract, originally set to count $7.64 million against the cap in 2025 with a potential savings of $6 million with a release. The Steelers will have plenty of cash available to spend in 2025, ranking top seven in effective cap space. The team is using its money wisely, too, with a league-low $45,335 in dead money — one of just two teams in the league with under $3.4 million in dead cap per Over The Cap.
Though the team rebuilt their depth at inside linebacker in 2024 with the free agent signing of Patrick Queen and drafting of Payton Wilson, Holcomb will bring plenty of key depth at the position, which has been marred with injuries in recent seasons. Remaining in Pittsburgh becomes especially important, too, considering that veteran Elandon Roberts is set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year.