Pittsburgh Steelers and Hawaii natives, Nate and Nick Herbig recently enlisted the help of the team and the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation to support high school football players that were affected by the wildfires that tore through Lahaina. The brothers jumped on a Zoom call with members of the Lahainaluna High School football team to announce a $25,000 grant that will allow the program to play this season despite the devastating effects of the wildfires.
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New Steelers offensive lineman, Nate Herbig (71).
The Herbig brothers hail from the island of Kauai and felt it was important to show support for the school, which is situated east of downtown Lahaina. The region was hit hard by the fires with a death toll of 115, but have now been 100% contained according to the latest report from Hawaii News Now.
"I didn't know what to say, how I can help, but we wanted to help," Nate said Steelers.com. "For me, football has always been something that has helped me get to where I am today, take care of my family. You guys can use (the donation) on your journey this season to get a state championship."
Lahainaluna High School won four consecutive HHSAA Division II titles from 2016 to 2019 and it was announced on Aug 25 that the school will be able to play a shortened schedule in the 2023 season. Nick echoed his older brother's sentiment of wanting to help and added how important it is to stick together in times of adversity.
"I know there is a lot going on. I am proud of you guys sticking together," he said. "If you look around, to the left and the right, that is a brotherhood right there. It's a lot deeper than football. You are brothers for life. No matter what you go through this year, just remember to stay together."
Nate expressed that if any of the players had any questions for him in the future that if they give him a follow on social media, he will be happy to answer them. The brothers then opened up the floor to questions and got plenty of questions about their journeys making it to the NFL.
Steelers' Herbig Brothers Offer Helpful Advice To Kids On Making It To The NFL
Nick said that being from Hawaii means that you have to play with a chip on your shoulder. As you progress through the ranks of high school to college to the pros, that you're representing not just yourself and the island you come from, but the whole state he added.
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Steelers rookie Nick Herbig fires off the edge in Week 2 of the 2023 preseason.
He said that the journey to making it to the NFL is a tough one, and you have to stay focused on your goals each and everyday. He said that he was always the first one to get to the high school gym to work out in the early hours of the morning. He added that players need to also stay focused in school because colleges won't even look at you if your grades aren't up to snuff. He added that now with the Steelers, he has a mentor in TJ Watt who forces him to work hard at his craft because he sees how the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year goes after it.
Nick added in another answer that it is important to keep up a routine when you get to the NFL. For him, he has a specific stretching routine that takes him a half hour to 45 minutes always gets him right to go play.
Nate added that a college recruiter can tell you about all the measurables and your physical traits, but they can't tell you about the "kind of dawg I have inside me." He added that there's no way to measure heart and as a prospect, you have to go out to prove that.
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY
Steelers' Nate Herbig at a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
He said that when he told people that he was going to be going to the NFL, they retorted that he'd be lucky to play at the University of Hawaii. He said he never listened to them or took it to heart, but it helped give him fuel to keep working.
The brothers were met with big applause after each answer during the 20 minute session of questions. While there didn't seem to be too many Steelers fans in the crowd, other than Head Coach Dean Rickard, when someone asked, one kid shouted out that he's a Herbig fan.
To help support, please visit the Red Cross/NFL or text HAWAII to 90999 to donate to the Red Cross. Or the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund: Focusing on rapid response and working with local nonprofits to understand community needs.
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