Nick Herbig
Nick Herbig
If you signed a $100 million contract with a nearly $20 million signing bonus, what is the first thing you would buy? Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Nick Herbig got to answer that question last month, and Tuesday he revealed where he spent his first big chunk of change.
“First thing I bought, besides paying off my mom and dad’s houses and all that, a set of golf clubs,” Herbig said during Deebo & Joe. “Titleist T-250s, dog. And a L.A.B. putter.”
Other than paying off his parents’ house, which could have been hundreds of thousands of dollars, Herbig’s first purchase was relatively modest, all things considered. Assuming he got a custom set and a new bag, his all-in total was likely somewhere around $3,000.
College players in today’s NIL landscape bring home a chain with their first paycheck worth five times that amount, if not much more. Even Joe Haden, who asked him the question, purchased a Bentley Coupe after his first big NFL extension worth at least $150,000.
Herbig is one of the last of his kind, playing most of his college ball before the NIL era where athletes get paid. And as a Steelers fourth-round pick, Herbig got a signing bonus of around $774,000 with an average annual salary of roughly $1.09 million. By no means was he hurting for money, but his old salary was a drop in the bucket compared to what he’s making now.
“I appreciate you staying grounded,” James Harrison told Herbig.
Armed with the golf clubs, Herbig now feels the need to become a member at a local country club.
“I’m thinking about joining a spot or something,” Herbig said. “I’m not a country-club-ass dude though, but it’s like, I’m a golfer. If you’re a golfer, you understand.”
If he signs up for one of the prestigious clubs, it’ll cost him much more than that set of clubs. First-time initiation fees can cost tens of thousands of dollars, along with five-figure annual dues.
Herbig may have just signed a $100 million contract, but his first big purchase was about as grounded as it gets. Of course, if he follows through on joining one of Pittsburgh’s premier country clubs, that could change pretty quickly.
At least he’ll have a nice set of clubs to bring with him.