As a senior, he had 46 tackles, 55 assists, and a school record 26 quarterback sacks on his way to being named conference most valuable player and first-team all-state.
One of the top high school players in the country, he was named Super Prep and PrepStar all-American.
In the 2003 NFL draft, Steinbach was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (33rd overall) and was immediately named a starter.
[5] The versatile and durable Steinbach was able to play at the guard, tackle, and center positions on the offensive line, and his speed and athleticism helped to make him one of the league's premier pulling lineman.
He had consistently been rated as a top five free agent (and widely considered number one among offensive lineman) following the 2006 season by every major sports authority.