Month: May 2025

3 must-watch Pittsburgh Steelers games on the 2025 NFL schedule

It’s still very early to be radically, overly analytical towards the competitiveness of the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, especially since training camp is months away. The roster will remain relatively fluid until the 53-man roster is ironed out along with the practice squad and any long-term injury designations. With the release of the 2025 NFL regular season schedule having just occurred last week, we analyzed the Steelers games to determine which ones we feel will be the top must-see matchups with the previously mentioned factors, as well as key players and opponent records in 2024, in mind.

Because every game in the AFC North will be a challenge – as they usually are due to the nature of divisional play – our list does not include any games from those series.

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Nearly every online sportsbook platform out there features the NFL, and the 2025 schedule is a hot topic – especially when it focuses on perennial competitors like the Pittsburgh Steelers. With head coach Mike Tomlin currently the longest tenured head coach, Pittsburgh remains a team fans keep track of. So, let’s look at what Steelers fans should mark down on their calendars as must-see games on the 2025 NFL schedule.

Week 4: Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sept. 28)

(Ireland, 9:30 AM EST, NFL Network)

With one of the hottest rosters in the league in 2024, the Vikings will be the visiting team when they play the Steelers at famed Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland in Week 4. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell led the team to a 14-3 record last season with Sam Darnold as their top quarterback surrounded by stars like Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw. J.J. McCarthy will take over quarterback duties in 2025 and is considered by NFL analyst Bucky Brooks to be the biggest wildcard in the league this year. Brooks said,

“With a pair of schematic wizards in Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores pencil-whipping opponents with deft play designs, the Vikings should be considered among the top candidates to supplant the defending champion Eagles as NFC representatives in Super Bowl LX — IF J.J. McCarthy can hit the ground running as the team’s new QB1.”

Early fan reactions to Steelers President Art Rooney II stating that the team may not head to Ireland until Thursday on game week leaned toward unfavorable, with many citing the poor experience Pittsburgh had when they traveled in 2013 (to London, England) to face the Vikings – a game the Steelers lost. To clarify, Rooney did tell Missi Matthews, “It’s been a long time since we’ve done it… we’ll have to look into how other teams have been doing it lately.”

That tidbit sets up an opportunity for fans to get in on a moneyline bet on football betting software; with little to no knowledge of how the two teams’ preparation may go, the opportunity to still come out a winner is there.

With tickets to the game already selling very quickly – and the historic event being set up early in the season – this is one game every Steelers fan will want to schedule to be a part of, in-person or elsewhere. Watch parties are already highly anticipated, nationally and abroad.

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Week 13: Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills

(Acrisure Stadium, Nov. 30 – 4:25 EST, CBS)

The last time the Bills and Steelers met was during the NFL Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL playoffs. The Bills walked away with a 31-17 victory. In their last four meetings, going back to 2019 (not including the playoffs), the Steelers have been on the road in Buffalo three times. Their last meeting in Pittsburgh took place on December 15, 2019. The Steelers lost three of those games.

A November matchup between these two AFC challengers makes our list because it was already expected to be one of the toughest games on the 2025 NFL schedule, but also because the Bills stand secure with Josh Allen as their quarterback, at this point, while the Steelers may still be trotting Mason Rudolph out late in the season.

The game will be later in the afternoon, which could make it a chilly environment for fans and the teams, as well. We consider this game a must-watch because of the potential playoff implications as both teams would love to get past each other and and advance in postseason play.

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Week 10: Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers

(Sunday Night Football, Nov. 9 – 8:20 EST, NBC)

In 2024, the Steelers beat the Chargers at Acrisure Stadium (41-37), but these two teams have a history of being unable to win back-to-back games as opponents going back to 2009.

The long-distance trip and night game, just one week removed from a Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts, will feature a Chargers team that exited the 2024 NFL playoffs early and is looking to have a bigger 2025 season with head coach Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert at quarterback.

ESPN’s Kris Rhim wrote,

“The Chargers won’t win double-digit games. Of the Chargers’ 11 wins last season, just three came over teams with a winning record…  L.A. benefited mightily from the NFL’s fifth easiest schedule in 2024 and beat up on some of the league’s worst teams in Harbaugh’s first season. With a much harder schedule and the Chargers roster not much improved from last season, it will be an uphill battle for this team to hit double-digit wins in 2025.”

That is the kind of thing Steelers fans love to hear about opponents, but there are analysts predicting Pittsburgh to also win less than ten games during the 2025 regular season. Beating the Chargers in Week 10 could set the Steelers up positively for the final stretch of their season, though, which pit this game squarely on our list.

 

3 must-watch Pittsburgh Steelers games on the 2025 NFL schedule appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Aaron Rodgers To Sign With Steelers By End Of May?

It has long seemed like a foregone conclusion that, assuming Aaron Rodgers chooses to play in 2025, he will suit up for the Steelers. A report from earlier this week indicated Pittsburgh was still optimistic it would get a deal done with the future Hall of Famer, and signs continue to point in that direction.

Rodgers’ biographer, Ian O’Connor, recently appeared on 93.7 The Fan’s The PM Team and predicted the 41-year-old would put pen to paper by the end of May (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Although he declined to disclose the personal issues that Rodgers himself has cited for his delay in signing with a club, O’Connor does not believe those issues – which pertain to a member of Rodgers’ inner circle – would preclude him from playing football.

Florio previously expressed his belief, supported by a source who knows Rodgers but who has no specific knowledge of the current situation, that the eccentric signal-caller may have wanted to avoid being a distraction by signing a contract with the Steelers but remaining away from the team for the early stages of the club’s offseason program as he sorts out his personal matter. Of course, given Rodgers’ status and the coverage that constantly surrounds him, the fact that he has not signed a contract at all is its own form of distraction. Still, it is fair to conclude that officially joining Pittsburgh and not reporting during the first phases of the offseason – which Rodgers has openly opposed anyway – would have invited even more scrutiny.

“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,’” O’Connor said (via Ross McCorkle of SteelersDepot.com).

Florio believes O’Connor was referring to the offseason program in general and not mandatory minicamp specifically, as mandatory minicamp does not take place until June 10. Florio also believes there is a good chance Rodgers will have signed with Pittsburgh by next week, as OTAs get underway on May 27.

Outside of the quarterback position, the Steelers have a playoff-worthy roster and did not select a signal-caller in this year’s draft until they added Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round. As such, the runway is very much clear for Rodgers to come aboard and supplant Mason Rudolph as Pittsburgh’s QB1.

O’Connor, who interviewed 250 people for his book Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers, believes Pittsburgh is the “perfect place” for Rodgers to finish his playing career.

“It may be me as an optimist, but I think this is gonna work out,” O’Connor said. “Do I think the Steelers will win the Super Bowl next year? No. But if you told me 11-6 with at least one playoff victory … I think that’s realistic.”

Rodgers has never been linked in any meaningful way to the Saints this offseason, and that did not change after it became clear Derek Carr would retire, per NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan. New Orleans will conduct an open competition between second-round rookie Tyler Shough and holdovers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener as it seeks its starting quarterback for 2025.

First Round Fallout: Giants, Dart, Sanders, Steelers, Broncos, Alexander

The Giants, heavily connected to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders throughout the pre-draft process, used the No. 3 overall in last month’s draft – a pick once seemingly ticketed for Sanders – on Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. The club ultimately got the player it hopes will become its franchise passer when it struck an agreement with the Texans to trade up from No. 34 to No. 25 and select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.

A recent episode of Giants Life, which is worth a watch for any NFL fan and for Giants fans in particular, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how the trade-up with Houston materialized (video link). As New York GM Joe Schoen confirms, rival teams knew that Big Blue, after having used its first selection on a non-quarterback, was still in the market for a QB. As such, when the draft proceeded to the No. 18 pick (at which point the Seahawks were on the clock), Schoen began getting calls from other GMs looking to trade down to No. 34.

When the draft moved into the 20s, Schoen himself became proactive and began making calls to determine who was interested in trading down. As Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post observes, Schoen believed he could swing a deal with the Broncos to acquire Denver’s No. 20 overall pick, which would have allowed him to leapfrog the Steelers and their No. 21 choice. Schoen knew Pittsburgh was in need of a quarterback as well, though he also had intelligence indicating the team was also looking to trade back, which appeared to suggest the Steelers were not prepared to take a signal-caller at that point.

He nonetheless considered offering the Steelers the same deal that apparently had been discussed with multiple clubs. However, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Giants were banking on the belief that Pittsburgh would select a defensive player with the No. 21 pick, thereby obviating the need to trade for No. 20 or No. 21. This is despite Schoen’s concern, as he voiced in Giants Life, that the QB-needy Browns or Saints could also move back into the first round (though he knew division rivals Pittsburgh and Cleveland would not come together on a trade of that magnitude). Fowler also says New York did not want to part with its No. 65 selection, which the Texans were obviously willing to exclude from a trade package.

Ultimately, the Giants and Texans agreed to a trade that sent the Nos. 34 and 99 picks of the 2025 draft, along with a 2026 third-rounder, to Houston in exchange for the No. 25 pick and the right to select Dart. As Schoen admitted, no one will remember the third-round picks that went to the Texans if he got the Dart pick right. Interestingly, right before Houston GM Nick Caserio called Schoen to formally accept the deal, it looks as if Schoen received a call from Rams GM Les Snead. Los Angeles originally held the No. 26 pick, one spot behind the Texans, so Schoen naturally put Snead on hold to talk to Caserio and finalize a trade. Ultimately, Snead found a taker for his No. 26 selection, which he dealt to the Falcons in exchange for a package fronted by a 2026 first-rounder.

Dunleavy highlighted the portion of Schoen’s war room conversations in which he told head coach Brian Daboll, “you guys are convicted in [Dart]. You believe in him. We did the process. He checked all the boxes. Let’s roll the dice.” That exchange leads Dunleavy to believe the Dart pick, as previously reported, was indeed driven by the coaching staff.

Earlier reports also indicated Daboll was one of the coaches who did not see eye-to-eye with Sanders, and while the Giants reportedly still would have entertained a trade-up for Sanders if Dart had been taken off the board, multiple Daboll-Dart connections formed in the run-up to the draft. It became clear that Dart was Daboll’s preferred target, and Sanders himself acknowledged that he “didn’t hit it off with Giants coaches,” according to Fowler.

The No. 65 pick that the Giants did not want to include in a trade-up maneuver was used to select Toledo defensive end Darius Alexander. Though New York had already added the high-ceiling Carter to a group that includes Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the club further leaned into its defensive front with Alexander, whom many scouts viewed as an ascending prospect. One team source told Fowler, “when you think of the New York Giants, you think of how they are built up front.”

SCU Week in Review – May 18th

In case you missed it (or anything) the SCU Week in Review recaps all articles, videos, posts and more, shared via Steel City Underground’s various platforms throughout the week.

First impressions of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL schedule

The 2025 NFL schedule has been released. How did the Pittsburgh Steelers fare this year from the schedule makers?

Joe and Brian discuss the highlights and lowlights of the 2025 calendar, including a lack of home games and if the team has a brutal stretch to watch for as they did last season.

View the video below on YouTube or visit our podcast page to find it on all popular audio platforms.

Weekly Highlights

Has rookie minicamp addressed Steelers O-line depth?

Has rookie minicamp addressed Steelers O-line depth?

2024 Steelers Season Recall: Preseason Games Begin

2024 Steelers Season Recall: Preseason Games Begin

What we know so far about the Steelers 2025 schedule

What we know so far about the Steelers 2025 schedule

Rooneys, Steelers go from ‘American Bowl’ to historic Dublin game

Rooneys, Steelers go from ‘American Bowl’ to historic Dublin game

What to watch for on the Steelers 2025 NFL schedule

What to watch for on the Steelers 2025 NFL schedule

Plays of the Year: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season

Plays of the Year: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season

SCU Week in Review – May 18th appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Plays of the Year: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the top runs, catches, hits, and everything else in between from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season.

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to score many points against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season, they did manage to find the end zone in the second quarter.

The Steelers offense had three 3-and-outs before a Chris Boswell field goal was scored following a special teams turnover. They then had to punt on a series.

With just over six minutes left in the first half, Pittsburgh went on an 11-play drive that ate up 70 yards. After Russell Wilson escaped pressure on two keepers for ten yards, running back Najee Harris was stopped on a one-yard loss. A short pass to Van Jefferson got no gain, setting the Steelers up at 3rd & goal at the Philly 9 with 2:34 left.

Wilson took the snap with tight end Pat Freiermuth lined up just to the right of Broderick Jones. Wilson allowed Freiermuth to get clear and hit him in stride for a touchdown.

The catch was Freiermuth’s sixth touchdown reception of the season and at the end he would lead the team in touchdowns. Freiermuth would also finish second to George Pickens as Pittsburgh’s top receiver (in yards).

The outcome of the game, however, was a 24-13 loss which would be the first of a five-game losing streak to complete the season.

Plays of the Year: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season appeared first on Steel City Underground.

What to watch for on the Steelers 2025 NFL schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2025 season with renewed intrigue as the NFL’s full schedule was released on Wednesday. With kick-off slated for this fall, fans in Pittsburgh and beyond are eager to see how the retooled roster will handle a potentially challenging slate of matchups.

Known for their consistency, the Steelers will look to extend their streak of .500 or better seasons, and hopefully break their postseason winless drought.

This article breaks down the Steelers’ 2025 schedule with predictions and an outlook on how the team is projected to perform.

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Steelers’ 2025 opponents and strength of schedule

The list of NFL teams the Steelers will face includes a mix of home and away games against tough competition. Here’s how the matchups look:

Home Games

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Seattle Seahawks

Away Games

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Jets

According to Sharp Football Analysis, Pittsburgh will face the 24th most challenging schedule in 2025. This includes facing divisional rivals Ravens and Bengals, both of whom continue to be formidable opponents, along with several other 2024 playoff teams such as the Seahawks, Vikings, Packers, Chargers, Bills, and Lions.

What Makes This Schedule Tough?

  • Divisional Matchups: The AFC North consistently ranks among the most competitive divisions in the league, with the Bengals and Ravens leading the charge.
  • Non-Conference Opponents: Teams such as the Lions and Vikings present a significant challenge on the road.
  • Prime-Time Opportunities: The Steelers will be seen .

Record prediction and key games

Win-Loss Prediction

Experts project the Steelers to finish the 2025 NFL season with a record of 8-9, a challenging placement considering their track record of .500 or better for 21 consecutive seasons. While the defense is expected to perform at a championship level, the offense may struggle due to uncertainties at quarterback and skill positions.

Key Games to Watch

At Baltimore Ravens

The Steelers will be looking for payback against the Ravens following crushing defeats in Baltimore last season that saw them lose a shot at winning the AFC North, and also a disappointing loss in the Wild Card round. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry on the Ravens’ home turf will test Pittsburgh’s defense.

Buffalo Bills at Home

Josh Allen and the Bills bring firepower to the matchup, forcing Pittsburgh’s defense to step up. At home, the Steelers need strong performances to secure must-win games like this. They also need their fans to show up and not allow the “Bills Mafia” to takeover with the short drive south to Pittsburgh.

At Detroit Lions

Detroit is trending upward with its young, dynamic roster. Playing in a raucous Ford Field will carry added pressure for Pittsburgh to execute on both sides of the ball. The game also comes at an opportune time as the Steelers travel frequently in December and get an opportunity to play inside of a dome stadium.

Cincinnati Bengals

With Joe Burrow and the Bengals boasting one of the top offenses in the league, Pittsburgh will lean on its defense to contain the Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback in both the home and away matchups. Look for the Steelers to enact some revenge after dropping one of their last five games to the Bengals last season.

At New York Jets

This Week 1 matchup could get interesting if Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers and faces his former team. Regardless, Justin Fields will get the opportunity to do the same as the former Steelers quarterback signed with New York in the offseason.

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Defensive strengths could keep Pittsburgh competitive

The Steelers’ defense, led by T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and a strong supporting cast—including first-rounder Derrick Harmon and emerging corner Joey Porter Jr.—remains elite. But with Mason Rudolph or rookie Will Howard likely under center, offensive consistency is still a major concern.

Betting insights for 2025

For fans exploring NFL betting predictions, the Steelers’ win total over/under projection sits at 8.5 games per FanDuel. The Ravens and Bengals are favored to finish as the top two teams in the AFC North, likely leaving Pittsburgh to battle for the third position alongside a Cleveland rebuild.

  • Defensive Props: Bet on individual player performances, with names like T.J. Watt likely to feature heavily in categories such as sacks or Defensive Player of the Year odds,
  • Win Totals: An 8.5 projection reflects a thin margin between hitting the over or under, making critical injuries or divisional results essential.

Can the Steelers defy the odds?

Pittsburgh’s 2025 season is packed with potential hurdles—from tough divisional matchups to high-profile road games. But history shows that a Mike Tomlin-led Steelers team is rarely out of the fight. Whether you’re following NFL betting predictions or simply anticipating the action, this season promises to be another dramatic chapter for one of football’s most celebrated franchises. The path won’t be easy, but the Steelers have a track record of rising to the occasion.

What to watch for on the Steelers 2025 NFL schedule appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Aaron Rodgers Still In Steelers’ QB Plans

The 2025 draft came and went without any clarity emerging on the Aaron Rodgers front, leading to further questions regarding where (if at all) he will play this year. If the future Hall of Famer suits up, Pittsburgh remains the likeliest destination.

The Steelers are still “optimistic” Rodgers will sign, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports. Team and player have remained in contact well after meeting in person during free agency, but the 41-year-old’s most recent public comments on his situation made it clear personal matters are the top priority for now. A starting gig would await Rodgers upon arrival in Pittsburgh, especially if his stated willingness to take a one-year pact for as little as $10MM holds true.

Mason Rudolph returned to the organization after a one-year absence, and the Steelers have repeatedly expressed confidence in his ability to handle QB1 duties for at least the 2025 campaign. As Graziano writes, Pittsburgh’s stance on the quarterback situation is more positive internally than it is viewed from the outside. Skylar Thompson and sixth-round rookie Will Howard round out the depth chart at this point.

The Steelers fully intend to bring four signal-callers to training camp, per usual. As a result, an addition of some kind will need to be made, and Kirk Cousins looms as the other notable veteran who could be obtained (albeit via trade, and in a manner which would no doubt require a more lucrative financial commitment than a Rodgers signing). The Vikings are – in all likelihood – no longer in the market for an addition under center, taking Rodgers’ preferred team out of the running.

Shedeur Sanders loomed as an option for the Steelers at pick No. 21 last month, but the team was split on drafting the Colorado product. Pittsburgh waited until much later to add a developmental rookie, with owner Art Rooney II saying in between that Rodgers wants to play for his team in 2025. A short-term arrangement would leave open the possibility of adding a starting-caliber rookie next year, thus meeting Pittsburgh’s goal of acquiring a long-term passer within the 2025 or ’26 drafts.

Rudolph helped lead the Steelers to the postseason in 2023 upon taking over from Kenny Pickett. The latter was unable to deliver on expectations as a Ben Roethlisberger successor, something Rodgers will of course not be viewed as even in the event he signs. An agreement on that front would nevertheless add intrigue to the prospects for a team whose regular season schedule begins with a Jets matchup and includes a Week 8 Sunday night contest in Green Bay.

Rooneys, Steelers go from ‘American Bowl’ to historic Dublin game

During the upcoming 2025 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will once again travel internationally to play. Formerly, they were a part of the NFL’s ‘American Bowl’ series, but this upcoming season the historic first NFL game at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland is a continuation of the Rooney family’s legacy as well an expansion of team and league recognition beyond the borders of the United States to the Emerald Isle.

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The American Bowl series

The American Bowl was a series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States between 1986 and 2005. Although international games had been held prior to the American Bowl series, the NFL adopted a policy of at least one overseas game per year.

Famed Wembley Stadium in London was a favored site, drawing large international crowds and interest. The league then expanded its reach beyond the NFL Europe League’s start in 1991.

The American Bowl was a fifth pre-season game, played the same weekend as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and did not take away a game from the participating teams’ pre-season schedules. In 1997, Ireland hosted the Steelers and Chicago Bears at Croke Park, but it was purely exhibition. The Steelers and Kordell Stewart outgunned Rick Mirer and the Bears, 30-17.

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NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland at Croke Park

The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to make history on September 28, 2025, when they face the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Ireland. Played at Croke Park, a move that holds both symbolic and strategic importance for the franchise – particularly for the Rooney family, whose Irish heritage runs deep.

Steelers president, Art Rooney II, has been a driving force behind bringing the NFL to Ireland. As the son of the late Dan Rooney – former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland and longtime Steelers chairman – Art is committed to honoring and expanding upon his family’s legacy.

The Rooney family’s roots trace back to County Down on the paternal side and County Mayo on the maternal side. This strong ancestral connection to Ireland has inspired the family’s decades-long effort to grow the Steelers’ presence there.

Dan Rooney’s tenure as ambassador (2009–2012) not only strengthened U.S. – Ireland relations but also deepened the Steelers’ cultural footprint in the region. Art Rooney II has carried that legacy forward, describing the upcoming game as “the next logical step” in their long-standing relationship with Ireland.

Strengthening the Steelers’ & NFL’s international reach

The 2025 game in Dublin is part of the NFL’s broader international expansion strategy, which includes games in London, Germany, Brazil, and Spain. For the Steelers, this game is more than a marketing opportunity – it’s a mission grounded in heritage and long-term fan engagement.

In recent years, the Steelers have made concerted efforts to engage Irish fans. These include:

  • Partnership with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA): Hosting football clinics and community events in Ireland.
  • International streaming: Broadcasting Steelers preseason games on GAA’s streaming platform to Irish audiences.
  • Local fan outreach: Hosting Steelers watch parties and merchandise pop-ups across Ireland, including a 2025 NFL Draft party.

“The hosting of this major event presents a wonderful opportunity to deliver on our commitment to strengthen our political, cultural, economic and trade relationship with the U.S. at all levels,” said Minister of State with Responsibility for Sport Charlie McConalogue, TD, regarding the upcoming NFL regular season game.

“I look forward to welcoming thousands of American Football fans from America and further afield to our shores for what I am sure will be a fantastic sporting spectacle and one that will be of great benefit to Ireland.”

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Croke Park: A Symbolic Venue

Croke Park, Ireland’s largest sports stadium and the heart of Gaelic games, is a deeply symbolic choice. Hosting an NFL game there not only emphasizes the significance of American football’s global growth but also pays tribute to Ireland’s rich sporting culture.

The Steelers’ collaboration with the GAA is instrumental in bridging American and Irish sports traditions.

Croke Park, previously the site of the 1996 Notre Dame vs. Navy game in addition to the American Bowl, has long been considered a potential NFL venue and 2025 will finally mark its debut on the league’s international calendar.

As the NFL continues to globalize its reach, the Steelers are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in Ireland. Their deep-rooted connection to the country, combined with a strong commitment to international fan development, makes them the ideal franchise to pioneer the league’s presence on the Emerald Isle.

Rooneys, Steelers go from ‘American Bowl’ to historic Dublin game appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers Unlikely To Add WR In Near Future

With the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers courtship still on, the team made George Pickens its latest contract-year wide receiver traded. Rather than pairing the talented wideout with D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh passed and is resetting around its high-priced trade acquisition.

On the surface, it would appear the Pickens trade leaves the Steelers in need of a replacement. After all, they spent much of 2024 searching for a player to pair with Pickens. This included an aggressive Brandon Aiyuk pursuit and later looks into Christian Kirk and even Metcalf before the 2024 deadline. Mike Williams ended up being Pittsburgh’s play, but production did not follow the former top-10 pick (who has since returned to the Chargers).

[RELATED: Small Market Formed For Pickens]

This year, Omar Khan and Co. may be content to wait. The Steelers are more likely to see how their young batch of potential Metcalf complementary pieces looks before pursuing a Pickens replacement, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Pittsburgh does roster multiple intriguing rookie-contract cogs, and the team’s only known commodity behind Metcalf — Robert Woods — is on his fifth squad and entering his 13th season.

Calvin Austin, in particular, is a player the Steelers are higher on than most realize, Breer adds. The slot target has made progress since going off the 2022 draft board in Round 4, moving from a full-season absence to 180 yards in 2023 to 548 in ’24. Austin’s size (5-foot-9, 162 pounds), however, effectively brings a low ceiling on his capabilities alongside Metcalf. That said, the contract-year performer will almost definitely play another central role in the Steelers’ passing attack.

Roman Wilson may be the more interesting piece here, as the Steelers have an established track record of identifying wideout talent on Day 2 0f a draft. Wilson, however, basically redshirted as a rookie. Ankle and hamstring injuries kept Wilson off the field for just about his entire rookie season. He played just five offensive snaps in 2024. Expecting the Michigan product to go from such sparse usage to potential No. 2 wide receiver is probably unrealistic, even considering the Steelers’ history of development here. But the team still views Wilson as a key piece, even as rumors of the Steelers — as the Rodgers wait continues — pursuing Allen Lazard (or potentially another of the QB’s former Packer targets) have circulated.

The Steelers gave Woods a one-year, $2MM deal ($745K guaranteed) but added him after a 203-yard 2024 season. Years removed from his Rams apex, the 33-year-old target also does not profile as a player capable of making a difference in a starting role. However, Woods would bring some insurance in case Wilson is again not ready. That scenario would almost definitely, however, lead the Steelers to reignite their WR pursuit before the post-Week 9 deadline. For now, it appears Metcalf — who played with Tyler Lockett throughout his Seahawks career and with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the past two seasons — will have less around him going into training camp.

What we know so far about the Steelers 2025 schedule

With the release of the 2025 NFL schedule set for Wednesday evening, leaks and predictions everywhere have fans wondering how the Pittsburgh Steelers’ schedule will play out.

Despite some of these leaks bearing factual information, many of them will prove to be false. Before you give up, there are some items that we already know ahead of the official publication of this year’s schedule. In total, the Steelers will play 17 games, with a split of those games played at home and on the road. The Steelers will have an additional home game this year, with the NFL rotating the 17th game on a home/away basis each year.

After having played one of the toughest schedules in 2024, the Steelers will only see seven teams that made the postseason in this year’s slate.

Also, season ticket holders can expect to shell out for ten total games, though some of the packages will include at least one preseason game. (Two of the ten tickets were for preseason games in 2024.)

To help you navigate the waters of misinformation, here are some more facts about what we know heading into the official schedule release.

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Ireland Game Confirmed

Earlier this week, the NFL announced its full International Games schedule. As part of the league’s long-term commitment to global expansion and driving year-round engagement in international markets, the 2025 International Games will be played across Europe in Dublin, Ireland, London, U.K., Berlin, Germany, and Madrid, Spain.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, rumors were abound that the Steelers would finally play a game overseas in their new international market. Pittsburgh last played an international game in 2013 in London, England, and were long overdue. Who their opponent would be was debated, with rumors swirling about. Oddsmakers and predictions pointed to several opponents, but in the end it was like the 3 bet poker meaning, bluffing their opponent and leading to a rematch from their 2013 encounter.

The release included an official date and time for the Steelers game that was previously announced for Dublin, Ireland. On Sunday, September 28th, the Steelers will face the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, in the country’s first-ever regular-season NFL game.

According to Steelers.com, kickoff time is set for 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, 2:30 p.m. local time in Ireland. The game will be broadcast on NFL Network. NFL Game Pass on DAZN will broadcast all 2025 International Games in international markets outside of the U.S. The game will also stream on NFL+.

“The 2025 NFL season will see seven regular season games played outside of the U.S. — the most ever regular season international games to date, including historic first games in iconic venues in Berlin, Dublin and Madrid,” said NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International, Peter O’Reilly. “The 2025 International Games schedule showcases an exciting selection of matchups featuring major NFL stars, bringing our game directly to fans around the world, and underscores our collective commitment to global growth as we continue our journey to becoming a truly global sport.”

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AFC North Opponents

As is customary, the Steelers will also play all three teams in their division. They will host and play at each of their three AFC North rivals, which include the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns.

The division slate is important, as these six games will determine who wins the AFC North and will host a home playoff game during the Wild Card round.

Including the Ireland game against the Vikings, this totals seven of the Steelers 17 games, leaving ten more remaining.

The Other Ten

This upcoming season, each AFC North team will square off against every team in both the AFC East and the NFC North, with a split of home and away games. Those home and away matchups are determined on a rotating basis, with the Steelers playing every NFL team at least once every four seasons, and sharing playing at an away venue at least once every eight.

Furthermore, Pittsburgh will each have three additional games against opponents determined by their final divisional standings. These matchups will include home games against teams from the AFC South and the NFC West, and a road game against a team from the AFC West.

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Home Games

Aside from the three AFC North opponents, the Steelers will also host teams from the aforementioned divisions.

Pittsburgh will play host to the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins from the AFC East, the Green Bay Packers from the NFC North, and the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks due to their final finish within the division and conference. (Note: The Minnesota Vikings game in Ireland is considered a home game for the Steelers as well.)

Away Games

The Steelers will have short road trips on their schedule this season as they travel to face NFC North opponents. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions will play host to the Steelers on those trips, while the AFC East’s New England Patriots and New York Jets will see the Black and Gold on the road as well.

Fans will be excited for warmer weather with one West Coast trip too, as the final division standings aligned the Steelers with a trip to face the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Final List

Here is a final tally of the Steelers 17-game schedule as we know it. The 2025 NFL Schedule powered by AWS will be released on Wednesday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network, NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL+.

Home Opponents:

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Minnesota Vikings (Dublin Game)
  • Seattle Seahawks

Away Opponents:

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Detroit Lions
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Jets

What we know so far about the Steelers 2025 schedule appeared first on Steel City Underground.