Linebacker Cole Holcomb is expected to be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers next season.
My Sports Update’s Ari Meirov reported Monday morning the Steelers are closing in on a 2-year, $5 million deal with the linebacker. The contract is coming just hours before the official start of NFL free agency.
Representation of unrestricted free agents can begin speaking with teams around the league at 12 pm ET Monday. Players can then officially start signing with other organizations on Wednesday at 4 pm ET.
Since he’s heading back to his incumbent team, Holcomb can sign anytime.
In 2026, Holcomb will return for his fourth season with the Steelers. He joined the club on a 3-year, $18 million deal during March 2023.
The linebacker has become one of the more popular non-stars in Pittsburgh over the last few years. Fans admire his toughness and high energy. Although he’s from Florida and a North Carolina alum, Holcomb also has family ties to northwest Pennsylvania.
With the Steelers, the linebacker has posted 91 combined tackles, including four tackles for loss in 22 games. He has also registered three forced fumbles, two quarterback hits and two pass defenses.
Holcomb will turn 30 years old in July.
Steelers Re-Sign LB Cole Holcomb: Report
Holcomb was one of the team’s top free agent acquisitions three years ago. In his first eight games, he was all over the field, leading the team in defensive snaps and tackles.
But during Week 9 of 2023, the linebacker sustained a gruesome dislocated knee injury. The ailment sidelined Holcomb for the rest of the season and all of 2024.
He returned in 2025 but not to the starting lineup. Holcomb played in 14 contests, starting three of them — Weeks 3, 6 and 7.
Since he didn’t regain his starting role, most pundits expected Holcomb to sign elsewhere in NFL free agency this offseason. He didn’t play at all on defense in the team’s final four regular season games or during the playoffs. During that time, Holcomb was relegated to a special teams role.
But the Steelers re-signing the linebacker is a clear indication the team still valued his contributions at the right price. Pittsburgh fans will be able to continue rooting for the underdog linebacker as he moves another year away from his knee injury.
The then Washington Redskins drafted Holcomb at No. 173 overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite being a fifth-round pick, he earned a starting job as a rookie and finished second on the team with 105 tackles.
Over four seasons with Washington, Holcomb posted 388 combined tackles, including 15 for loss, nine quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks. He also had three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Holcomb is one of the few players in history who played for Washington while they had all three of their nicknames — Redskins, Football Team and Commanders.
What Will Holcomb’s Role Be With Steelers in 2026?
Few will consider Holcomb’s re-signing bad news for the linebacker or team. But it’s worth wondering what role he will have.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora asked that shortly after news broke he would re-sign in Pittsburgh.
“Little surprised about the Cole Holcomb deal,” Kozora wrote. “Not sure what his role will be other than just experienced depth.
“Unless team is about to cut Malik Harrison.”
At inside linebacker, Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison are all already under contract. All three of those linebackers played more on defense than Holcomb last year.
Furthermore, the Steelers have 2025 seventh-rounder Carson Bruener on the roster too. Wilson and Bruener played more special teams snaps than Holcomb in 2025.
Harrison was also only three special teams snaps shy of Holcomb, and Harrison played three fewer games.
It’s possible another inside linebacker move is coming for Pittsburgh. For now, though, they have a loaded group with Holcomb set to return.
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