Photo: Cramerwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons²

Alex Highsmith

Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers · #56.

Player facts

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Linebacker
Number: 56
Born: Aug 7, 1997 (age 29)
Birthplace: Wilmington, NC, USA
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 242 lbs
College: Charlotte
Experience: 7 seasons
Status: Active

Stats

2026 Defense

	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	STF	STFYDS
Regular Season	9	5	4	3	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	2	3
Last 5 Games	9	5	4	3	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	2	0
Career	346	217	129	48	10	3	32	10.7	1	30	11	52	85

Recent games

			Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
Date	Opponent	Result	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	KB
Sun, Oct 11	vs IND	W 34-22	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Thu, Oct 1	@ CLE	L 27-24	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 27	vs CIN	W 30-27	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 20	@ NE	L 20-3	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0
Sun, Sep 13	vs ATL	W 20-13	3	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Last 5 games. Click a game for its box score.

About

Alex Highsmith (born August 7, 1997) is an American professional football outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Charlotte 49ers.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alex Highsmith, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Highsmith grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended Eugene Ashley High School, where he played baseball, basketball and football. He played middle linebacker and fullback and was named second-team All-Area and first-team All-Mideastern Conference as a senior. He was also named All-Area in baseball. Highsmith was lightly recruited by college programs and only received interest from Davidson and Furman before being offered a spot on UNC Charlotte's team as a walk on.

College career

Highsmith joined the Charlotte 49ers as a walk-on and redshirted his true freshman season. As a redshirt freshman, he played in all 12 of the 49ers games and finished the season with 17 tackles and a sack. Highsmith was a key member of Charlotte's defensive line rotation during his redshirt sophomore season and finished the year with 33 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one fumble recovery. He was named a starter at defensive end as a redshirt junior and was named first-team All-Conference USA after setting a school record with 17.5 tackles for loss along with 60 total tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He was again named first-team All-Conference USA and was also a third-team All-American selection by the Associated Press as a senior after setting new school records with 14 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.

Personal life

Highsmith is a Christian.

In June 2022, Highsmith married Alyssa Ungrady, who competed in track and field for Charlotte.

Highsmith’s devotion to community service in the Pittsburgh, Wilmington and Charlotte areas has earned him recognition as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2025. Through his foundation, the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation, he is focus on empowering the next generation through programs that focus Physical Fitness, Nutrition, Athletic Preparation, Family Involvement, Academic Success, and Emotional and Social Support. Starting in 2021, his foundation has hosted annual youth football camps and fundraisers to raise funds to provide kids free essentials such as backpacks, haircuts, hygiene kits, books, and meals.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alex Highsmith, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹