Highsmith_Alex_Game_Action_bio-action-shot_player

Alex Highsmith

LB

#56

Experience: 7 years

Height: 6-4

Age: 29

Weight: 242 lbs

College: Charlotte

2025 SEASON

Solo
36
SCK
9.5
FF
1
INT
--

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Defense

YEAR	TEAM	G	Total	Solo	AST	SCK	PDEF	INT	TDS	YDS	AVG	LNG
2025	Pittsburgh Steelers	13	50	36	14	9.5	3
2024	Pittsburgh Steelers	11	40	23	17	6	2
2023	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	51	28	23	7	3	2	1	30	15	30
2022	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	60	35	25	14.5	1
2021	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	65	37	28	6	0
2020	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	42	26	16	2	1	1	0	2	2	2
TOTAL		90	308	185	123	45	10	3	1	32	10.7	30

Biography

PRO CAREER

Has played in 90 games (79 starts) in his six-year NFL career (Pittsburgh 2020-25)
Has registered 331 tackles (208 solo), 64 tackles for loss, 45.0 sacks, 91 quarterback hits, three interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles and one interception return for TD
Has recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
His 14.5 sacks in 2022 are tied for the sixth-most in single-season franchise history
Has registered at least two QB hits and two TFL in 13 career games, which is tied for the seventh-most in the NFL since the start of the 2021 season
His nine forced fumbles are tied for the eighth-most in the NFL since the start of the 2022 season
One of just six players in the League with at least 7.0 sacks and two interceptions in a season since entering the NFL in 2020
His eight strip sacks are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL since the start of the 2022 season
His interception return for TD in Week 2 of 2023 vs. Cleveland came nine seconds into the game, which was the fastest TD to open a game for the Steelers since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger
First Steelers player to record an interception on the first play from scrimmage in a game since William Gay in 2014
In Pittsburgh's victory over Cleveland in Week 2 of 2023, Highsmith and T.J. Watt both recorded a sack and defensive TD -- becoming the first pair of teammates to each post a sack and TD in the same game since 1982, when the sack became an official statistic
Only player in the NFL in 2023 with at least 7.0 sacks and two interceptions
Has recorded nine multi-sack games in his career
Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2020 (at N.Y. Giants)
Made NFL starting debut in Week 13 of 2020 (vs. Washington)

PRO CAREER

Has played in 90 games (79 starts) in his six-year NFL career (Pittsburgh 2020-25)
Has registered 331 tackles (208 solo), 64 tackles for loss, 45.0 sacks, 91 quarterback hits, three interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles and one interception return for TD
Has recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
His 14.5 sacks in 2022 are tied for the sixth-most in single-season franchise history
Has registered at least two QB hits and two TFL in 13 career games, which is tied for the seventh-most in the NFL since the start of the 2021 season
His nine forced fumbles are tied for the eighth-most in the NFL since the start of the 2022 season
One of just six players in the League with at least 7.0 sacks and two interceptions in a season since entering the NFL in 2020
His eight strip sacks are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL since the start of the 2022 season
His interception return for TD in Week 2 of 2023 vs. Cleveland came nine seconds into the game, which was the fastest TD to open a game for the Steelers since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger
First Steelers player to record an interception on the first play from scrimmage in a game since William Gay in 2014
In Pittsburgh's victory over Cleveland in Week 2 of 2023, Highsmith and T.J. Watt both recorded a sack and defensive TD -- becoming the first pair of teammates to each post a sack and TD in the same game since 1982, when the sack became an official statistic
Only player in the NFL in 2023 with at least 7.0 sacks and two interceptions
Has recorded nine multi-sack games in his career
Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2020 (at N.Y. Giants)
Made NFL starting debut in Week 13 of 2020 (vs. Washington)

2025 (STEELERS)

Played in 13 regular-season games (13 starts)
Registered 50 tackles (36 solo), 9.5 sacks, 15 TFL, 19 QB hits, three passes defensed, one strip sack and one forced fumble
Recorded two tackles (two solo), two TFL, one QB hit, one pass defensed and 1.0 sack in Week 18 vs. Baltimore
Registered three tackles (three solo), four QB hits and 2.0 sacks in Week 17 at Cleveland
Recorded six tackles (four solo), two QB hits and two TFL in Week 16 at Detroit
Registered seven tackles (seven solo), two QB hits, three TFL and 1.0 sack (on the game's final play) in Week 14 at Baltimore
Recorded three TFL or more in two games, joining Myles Garrett (five), Maxx Crosby (four), Tuli Tuipulotu (three), Eric Wilson (two), Micah Parsons (two) and Carl Granderson (two) as the only players to do so
Registered two tackles (two solo), three QB hits, two TFL and 2.0 sacks in Week 10 at L.A. Chargers

2024 (STEELERS)

Played in 11 regular-season games (11 starts)
Registered 45 tackles (28 solo), 13 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, one forced fumbles, 6.0 sacks and two passes defensed
Recorded a season-high 2.0 sacks Week 8 versus the Giants
Recorded one forced fumble Week 16 versus the Ravens

2023 (STEELERS)

Played in all 17 regular-season games (17 starts)
Registered 57 tackles (34 solo), 18 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 7.0 sacks, three passes defensed, two interceptions and one interception return for TD
His interception return for TD in Week 2 2023 vs. Cleveland came nine seconds into the game, which was the fastest TD to open a game for the Steelers since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger
First Steelers player to record an interception on the first play from scrimmage in a game since William Gay in 2014
In Pittsburgh's victory over Cleveland in Week 2 of 2023, Highsmith and T.J. Watt both recorded a sack and defensive TD -- becoming the first pair of teammates to each post a sack and TD in the same game since 1982, when the sack became an official statistic
Only player in the NFL in 2023 with at least 7.0 sacks and two interceptions
Recorded one tackle (one solo), one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss, one interception and 1.0 sack in Week 16 vs. Cincinnati
Registered two games with at least 1.0 sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one interception (Week 2 vs. Cleveland and Week 16 vs. Cincinnati)
Recorded four tackles (two solo), 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss and a career-high five QB hits in Week 9 vs. Tennessee
His five QB hits were tied for the most in a game in the NFL in 2023
His five QB hits are tied for the sixth-most in a game by a Steelers player since 2001
One of five players to register 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss and five QB hits in the same game
Registered two tackles (two solo), 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one strip sack in Week 5 vs. Baltimore
Recorded seven tackles (five solo), 1.0 sack, one strip sack, one forced fumble, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, one interception and one pass defensed in Week 2 vs. Cleveland
Picked off Deshaun Watson on the Browns' first offensive play of the game and returned 30 yards for a TD, which marked the first interception return for TD since Week 1 of 2022 (Minkah Fitzpatrick at Cincinnati) and first interception return for TD by a linebacker since Week 8 of 2020 (Robert Spillane at Baltimore)
Marked the first interception return for TD at home since Week 12 of 2020 (Joe Haden vs. Baltimore) and first interception return for TD at home by a linebacker since Week 14 of 2010 (LaMarr Woodley vs. Cincinnati)

2022 (STEELERS)

Played in 16 regular-season games (16 starts)
Registered 63 tackles (38 solo), 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, 14.5 sacks and one pass defensed
Ranked first on the team in sacks and forced fumbles
Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss and quarterback hits
His 14.5 sacks were tied for sixth-most in the NFL, fourth-most in the AFC and fifth-most in single-season franchise history
His five forced fumbles were tied for first in the League
His four strip sacks were tied for second-most in the League
Registered career highs in sacks (3.0) and quarterback hits (four) in Week 1 at Cincinnati
Added on nine tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss and a forced fumble that was recovered by DT Cameron Heyward in Week 1 at Cincinnati
Recorded the fifth multi-sack game of his career with 1.5 in Week 3 at Cleveland, along with eight tackles (six solo), two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss
Strip sacked QB Tom Brady in a Week 6 victory vs. Tampa Bay
Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 10 vs. New Orleans where he registerered five tackles (three solo), 2.0 sacks, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one forced fumble
Notched his fourth strip sack of the season in Week 12 at Indianapolis
Took down QB Deshaun Watson for 2.5 sacks in the season finale vs. Cleveland along with eight tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits

2021 (STEELERS)

Played in 16 regular-season games (16 starts)
Registered career highs in tackles (74 total, 46 solo) and tackles for loss (15)
Added on 15 quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks and one forced fumble
Inactive due to a groin injury in Week 3 vs Cincinnati
Registered the first multi-sack game of his career with 1.5 takedowns of QB Geno Smith in Week 6 vs Seattle and repeated the feat in Week 11 at the Los Angeles Chargers
Recorded the first game of his career with double-digit tackles (11) in Week 10 vs Detroit
Left the Week 14 game at Minnesota with a hamstring injury and did not return
Notched the first strip sack of his career on QB Patrick Mahomes in Week 16 at Kansas City
Recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks in Week 17 vs Cleveland

2020 (STEELERS)

Played in 16 games (five starts)
Registered 42 tackles, 26 solo stops, five tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, one interception and one pass defensed
Recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
Reached a career high in special-teams tackles with three in Week 6 vs. Cleveland
Recorded the first sack of his career in Week 9 at Dallas
Entered the starting lineup in Week 13 vs. Washington
Intercepted his first career pass in Week 8 at Baltimore

COLLEGE

Four-year letterwinner at Charlotte (2015-19)
Owns school records for sacks in a game (4.5), season (14.0) and career (20.0) and tackles for loss in a game (5.0) and season (21.5)
Ranks second in school history with 46.0 tackles for loss and fifth with 185 career tackles
2020 NFL Combine participant
Named to the 2020 NFL All-Combine Team as an edge rusher
2020 East-West Shrine Bowl
2019 Third Team All-America by both AP and Pro Football Focus
First 49er to earn all-America honors
2020 East-West Shrine Bowl
2018 and 2019 First Team All-Conference USA (coaches)
First 49er to be named first-team All-C-USA twice
2019 First Team All-C-USA by PFF and Phil Steele
Ranked fourth in the nation in sacks (14.0) and fifth in tackles for loss (21.5) in 2019
Named to PFF's 2019 All-Draft Stock Team for those players whose draft stock rose the most this season
Starting DE in 49ers' first-ever bowl game (2019 Bahamas Bowl)
2019 Team Captain
2019 Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year) Watch List
2019 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
2018 first-team all-C-USA by PFF and second team by Phil Steele
Joined the 49ers for the 2015 season as a walk-on
Earned scholarship during the summer of 2017
Graduated with a degree in exercise science

PERSONAL

Attended Eugene Ashley High School (Wilmington, North Carolina)
Parents are Sam and Pam Highsmith
Has a sister, Lauryn
A/B Honor Roll throughout high school
National Honor Society
Also played basketball and baseball

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