Less than two hours before the so-called “legal tampering period” for NFL free agency got underway, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly reached agreement with one of their own unrestricted free agents.
Veteran inside linebacker Cole Holcomb is coming back on a two-year, $5 million contract, according to The 33rd Team. Holcomb, who will turn 30 during training camp, has appeared in 72 NFL games with 59 starts since 2019 but was mostly a reserve for the Steelers last season.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Holcomb was one of the better stories of 2025 for the Steelers because he completed a comeback from a serious knee injury suffered in November 2023. Holcomb had suffered multiple ligament tears, a dislocated kneecap and nerve damage in his left knee after colliding with then-teammate Keanu Neal. It was feared Holcomb’s career was over, and he spent the rest of 2023 and all of 2024 on injured reserve.
But Holcomb rehabbed to the point he was virtually a full participant at this past year’s training camp, and he made the team as a No. 4 inside linebacker. Signed to a three-year, $18 million deal in March 2023 to be the Steelers’ top ILB, in the time since Holcomb’s injury the Steelers signed Patrick Queen to a $41 million deal, drafted Payton Wilson in the third round and last year signed Malik Harrison to a two-year, $10 million free-agent contract.
Holcomb last season played fewer snaps than all three. Though he made three early-season starts, Holcomb did not play a snap on defense in any of the Steelers’ final five games (including playoffs). He did play extensively on special teams.
Holcomb’s signing could signal the Steelers plan to release Harrison, whose contract calls for a $4.75 million salary and $6.79 million cap hit in 2026. If Harrison is let go, the Steelers would be responsible for $2.04 million in dead money on their 2026 cap.
Holcomb has 91 tackles (55 solo, four for loss), two QB hits, two passes defended and three forced fumbles in 22 games for the Steelers. He started 48 of the 50 games he played from 2019-22 for the Washington franchise, which drafted him in the fifth round seven years ago.
Though contracts for players changing teams cannot be officially signed until 4 p.m. Wednesday, free agency begins in earnest at noon Monday when teams and agents can negotiate.
