3 fewer days of work for Steelers, who announce lightened spring practice schedule

The announcement of the offseason workout schedule was a little bit lighter this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Via an NFL release, the Steelers’ spring schedule for organized team activities and minicamp came out Thursday. The program — negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players — is a series of workouts and practice-like sessions that are largely non-mandatory. It opens April 21 when players report for voluntary workouts that are limited to strength and conditioning.

Most familiar to fans are the organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, the sessions that most resemble regular-season practices. And for 2025, in lieu of the league-maximum 10 OTAs, the Steelers have scheduled just six.

This spring’s OTAs are set for Tuesdays through Thursdays from May 27 through June 5.

The following week, June 10-12, will be the mandatory minicamp.

Traditionally, the Steelers have opted to schedule the maximum 10 OTA sessions, with one of those sessions devoted to coach Mike Tomlin taking players to a team-bonding event such as bowling or a movie.

Per the NFL’s release of all 32 teams’ spring schedules, the Steelers are far from alone in opting for a less-than-maximum spring workout regimen. The trend, in fact, affects more teams than not. The league and its players have broached the idea of perhaps eliminating the spring workout format while, in its place, extending training camp.

At a later date, the Steelers will announce the dates for 2025 rookie minicamp and training camp. Rookie minicamp is expected to be over the second weekend of May, with all players expected to report to Saint Vincent College for training camp over the final week of July.