Alex Highsmith says his number one goal is winning a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh

Alex Highsmith isn’t afraid to create lofty goals. The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman just put out the highest goal of all.

“The No. 1 goal is just a Super Bowl,” Highsmith said. “We got to get back to that, and we know that. Everyone in this locker room has to go. Not only get to it but win it. I just think that’s just the No. 1 and only goal for me. [I’m] just doing whatever I can to help us get to that.”

Along with the New England Patriots, the Steelers are the only NFL franchise to have won the Super Bowl six times. Pittsburgh most recently made it to the Super Bowl in 2010, but fell to the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII in 2008.

Evidently, the Steelers believe Highsmith can help the franchise reach its former heights. Last week, Highsmith inked a four-year extension worth $68 million with Pittsburgh, making him a top-10 earner amongst the league’s edge rushers. According to Adam Schefter, Highsmith’s new deal includes $27.7 million in guarantees and $38 million over the first two new years.

Highsmith earned every dollar. In 2022, the Charlotte product recorded 14.5 sacks, the sixth-most in the NFL. Additionally, Highsmith had 38 solo tackles and five forced fumbles, tying for most in the league. Entering his fourth year in the NFL, Highsmith has even higher expectations for the upcoming season.

“More sacks, more caused fumbles, just more havoc in general,” Highsmith told the press. “Just playing better details. Going back and watching my film, there are so many little things that I could have done better. Watching different rushes and I could have finished so many more sacks last year that I had.”

If Highsmith can even maintain his production, he will make history. Highsmith will join T.J. Watt as the only two Steelers ever to have 14.5-plus sacks in back-to-back seasons. Despite his fantastic season in 2022, Highsmith knows he has areas to improve.

“There’d be times I would beat guys, and I wouldn’t bend in the corner well enough, and the quarterback would step up,” Highsmith said. “So just continue to work on the end of the rush.”

Highsmith and his fellow Steelers will kick off the 2023 campaign against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. ET.