Steelers Sixth-Year Linebacker Shares Important Change He Made to His Game

Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith has established himself as a key member of the team’s defense. The NFL veteran continued to demonstrate why last season. He led the Steelers with nine and a half sacks during the 2025 regular season. Highsmith believes that one important change he made is why he had such a strong season in 2025.

Highsmith was interviewed by Jon Gruden on Thursday. The 28-year-old explained what he changed, “I switched it this year. My first few years, I was in a three-point stance on passing downs. Yet this year, I put my outside foot up. So I’m on the right side. So I put my right foot up.” He continued, “Then as soon as I saw, like, the QB get the indicator, the guard tapping the center, and I’m already loaded. So just going like this, loading off this leg. Then just playing off like that.” Highsmith stood up and demonstrated his stance.

Changing his stance also helped him limit how much he puts his hand on the ground in passing situations. According to Steelers Depot, Highsmith only had his hand on the ground in 0.9% of pass plays throughout the 2025 regular season. Per Steelers Depot, he had his hand on the ground in more than 28% of pass plays in 2024. The switch Highsmith made was very effective for him.

During the 2025 regular season, Highsmith played in 13 games. He amassed 50 total tackles, 36 of which were solo. He also had one forced fumble and three passes defensed. The star linebacker was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week Nine of the 2025 season.

Pro Football Focus graded the top 20 edge defenders from the 2025 season. Highsmith’s teammate Nick Herbig tied for sixth place with Josh Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Highsmith ranked number 11. PFF’s Ryan Smith wrote, “Much like his teammate Nick Herbig mentioned earlier, Alex Highsmith is another underrated player on a Steelers defense led by veterans such as T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. His 82.2 PFF run-defense grade was a career-best and ranked fourth among 118 qualifying edge defenders this season.”