Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb has had quite the NFL journey, which has been plagued with a multitude of injuries. However, he has been resilient and found a way to return to the football field every time.
Last season was no different. After suffering a significant knee injury midway through the 2024 season, Holcomb battled his way back and even found a way to make a significant impact.
During the Steelers’ 21-14 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3, Holcomb stripped running back Rhamondre Stevenson on the opening drive.
“Just came in and took a shot on the ball,” Holcomb said on his forced fumble. “It’s always to get those early. Like Mike Tomlin always says, they come in bunches.”
Holcomb’s forced fumble meant more than just living up to the Steelers’ takeaway culture, though. It proved he could still make a significant impact even after yet another devastating injury.
“Honestly, I was just excited to be able to get an opportunity to get out there and play the game that I love,” Holcomb said. “Definitely not taking any play for granted anymore. It was a long journey. It was a hell of a journey. There were days that it sucked. But it’s on to the next one.”
Holcomb should be back to normal in 2026, and he certainly has a path to making an impact once again. He’s part of an inside linebacker room that includes Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, but both players have underwhelmed as of late.
There’s no doubting Holcomb’s determination at this point of his career, but with a chance to continue building upon his unlikely return to football, nothing Holcomb does on the football field should surprise anyone.
6-foot-1, 240 pounds, 29 years old, 8th pro season
Acquired: The Steelers signed Holcomb to a three-year, $18 million free-agent contract in 2023 after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders.
Last year: Holcomb entered 2025 with a lot of question marks of what kind of player he would be after his serious knee injury in 2024. However, he proved his doubters wrong once again, recording 37 tackles (24 solo) and one forced fumble.
Pro career: Holcomb entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by Washington. He impressed as a rookie, recording 105 tackles (74 solo), one sack, three forced fumbles and one pass defensed.
Holcomb looked ready to pick up right where he left off in 2020, but a knee injury forced him to miss several games into the year. He looked like his old self once again in 2021, when he had a career-high 142 tackles (83 solo), one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven passes defensed, one interception and a touchdown.
However, a knee injury and foot surgery plagued his last season in Washington, which parted ways with him the next offseason. The Steelers then signed Holcomb and...
