
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 51: a history of the number and who wore it best
Current Steelers No. 51 wearer: LB Nick Herbig
Nick Herbig, one of the most underrated Steelers on defense, currently wears No. 51 on the roster. Drafted with the 132nd pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Herbig burst onto the scene as an explosive pass rusher, with shades of his mentor, T.J. Watt, evident throughout his game. Over the past two seasons, Herbig was seen more and more opportunity on defense — with 2025 potentially serving as the season all the pieces align for the third-year edge rusher.
Last five Steelers to wear No. 51:
Best No. 51 in Steelers history: LB James Farrior
No Steeler has worn No. 51 better than James Farrior. Drafted by the New York Jets with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Farrior signed with Pittsburgh in 2002 — where he would go on to become one of the most dependable inside linebackers in Steelers history. In his 10 seasons in the Steel City, from 2002 to 2011, Farrior produced 1,085 combined tackles, 82 tackles for loss, 30 sacks, and 12 forced fumbles in 154 games — all of which were starts. He won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, as well as earning First-Team All-Pro and Second-Team All-Pro selections, and was named to two Pro Bowls. Farrior was later inducted into the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor — and it's his consistency, as well as his dedication to excellence, that make him the definitive choice as the greatest Steeler to ever wear No. 51.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jets QB Justin Fields suffers dislocated toe in his right foot during Thursday's practice
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields suffered a dislocated toe in his right foot during Thursday's practice, the team announced. Fields is considered "day-to-day" and, according to the Jets, "avoided serious injury and significant missed time." Fields threw an incompletion, then sat down and stood up before limping off the field. Trainers were seen removing his right cleat to work on his foot. He was then carted off to the locker room to be examined. The team then ended what they were doing in practice and began working on special teams. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters he believed Fields had his foot stepped on. Tests showed no fracture, only the dislocation, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Jets are hoping Fields will be ready for Week 1. Fields is in his first season with the Jets after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason after spending 2024 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tyrod Taylor is the Jets' backup quarterback. When asked about the veteran signal caller potentially being needed to play, Glenn said, "I don't think there's any drop off as far as what we want to do when it comes to play calling." Fields making an impression early on Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Fields played three seasons in Chicago after the Bears selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers in 2024 after obtaining the No. 1 pick in the draft to select Caleb Williams. Fields then split time in Pittsburgh with Russell Wilson. He started Pittsburgh's first six games after Wilson suffered a calf injury in training camp before Wilson took over at quarterback for the rest of the season. In 10 appearances, including his six starts, Fields completed 65.8% of his passes last season for 1,106 yards on 6.9 yards per attempt with five touchdowns and one interception. He ran for 289 yards on 4.7 yards per carry with five rushing touchdowns. The Steelers were 4-2 in games he started, but moved on to Wilson once he was healthy. During offseason work, Fields has impressed Sauce Gardner, to the point that the two-time All-Pro cornerback said Fields has been making throws on the level of the quarterback he is replacing. "There's only a certain amount of quarterbacks that can make [certain throws]," Gardner said earlier this month via "The Pat McAfee Show." "I'm talking about throws on, like, Aaron [Rodgers'] type of level. When it comes to being able to squeeze those throws in there, I always thought Aaron was the best when it came to that. And it's like Justin had made a few throws where I'm like, 'OK, he really been in the lab, for real.' I could just tell." Fields and the Jets won't have to wait long to see Rodgers and his new team, the Steelers. New York and Pittsburgh will meet in Week 1.


USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
FSU is 'firmly in the mix' for elite 2027 QB
The Florida State Seminoles already have one of the top 2027 recruiting classes in the country, and they now have their sights on landing a quarterback to lead the class. One of their top targets is Jayce Johnson, a four-star quarterback from Valdosta, Georgia. Johnson's recruitment is in a critical stage as he will announce his commitment on Aug. 3. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder is deciding between the Seminoles, Texas A&M Aggies, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, and South Carolina Gamecocks. According to Tom Loy of 247Sports, FSU and Texas A&M have separated from the pack with decision day approaching. He also believes that while there has been lots of talk about the Aggies, "the Seminoles are firmly in the mix to potentially pull off the perceived upset. This one is closer than most are suggesting." Johnson is the No. 61 overall player in the 247Sports composite ranking and the No. 3 quarterback. He is also the No. 8 player from Georgia. He has visited FSU numerous times during his recruitment, which kicked into high gear back in October of 2024 when they offered him a scholarship. He was in Tallahassee twice in June, attending a school camp on June 5 and returning for another visit on June 15. Johnson had a productive sophomore season for Lowndes High School, leading them to a 10-2 record. Johnson completed 67.2% (123-183) of his passes for 1,799 yards, 16 touchdowns, and three interceptions, per MaxPreps. He also rushed for 318 yards and three touchdowns on 79 carries, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.


USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Indiana Fever release statement updating Caitlin Clark injury status
The Indiana Fever provided an important injury update for their star point guard on Thursday. Caitlin Clark has missed the last two regular-season games and the All-Star game with a right groin injury. It's the third different soft tissue injury Clark has dealt with this season, leading to her being in and out of the lineup all year long. Clark has already been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Las Vegas Aces, and the Fever provided an update on her injury and recovery process on Thursday. In a statement released on X, the Fever put out a highly-anticipated update on Clark's injury and the additional testing that happened earlier this week. "Caitlin Clark underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week, which confirmed that no additional injuries or damage were discovered. Clark will continue working with the medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being. There is no timetable available for her return," the Fever's statement read. It's good and bad news for the star guard. It's great that the testing from earlier this week found no additional injuries. Now, the Fever and Clark know they're just dealing with that right groin injury and can put together a treatment and recovery plan based on that. The bad news is that there is still no timetable for Clark's return as of now. While this isn't surprising news, as that treatment plan is probably still being worked on, it's unfortunate for the rest of the team and the fans that Clark's return timeline is still up in the air. The most important thing for Clark and the Fever is her long-term health, as mentioned in the statement released by the team. If keeping her out of game action for a while ensures she fully recovers, then that's the right move for all parties. In the meantime, the Fever will have to find ways to win games without their point guard, which has proved to be a challenge this season. They're 4-7 without Clark this season, including the Commissioner's Cup final, and they're 9-5 with her playing. Indiana (12-12) continues their season on Thursday when they host the Las Vegas Aces (12-11). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney