Season Summary:
The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2024 NFL season with an impressive 10-7 record, marking their fifth consecutive winning season under head coach Mike Tomlin. This extended Tomlin’s remarkable record of posting a winning record in every season he has been the Steelers’ head coach.
The Steelers achieved this success amidst a quarterback change, with Justin Fields starting the season before Russell Wilson took over in Week 7. The team started the season strong, winning eight of their first ten games, including a key victory over division rivals Baltimore in Week 11.
However, their momentum faltered towards the end of the season, as they dropped five of their last seven games, ultimately losing to Baltimore in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Facing Key Decisions:
2025 NFL Trade Candidates:
The Steelers are expected to have several players become trade candidates in the offseason.
Key Contributors Hitting Free Agency:
Several key contributors on both offense and defense are set to hit free agency in 2025, including Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and others. The team will need to make strategic decisions at key positions, particularly quarterback.
Free Agency Types:
There are four types of free agents:
- Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA): Players whose contracts have expired and have played four or more accrued seasons.
- Restricted Free Agents (RFA): Players with expiring contracts, but their teams can offer them a tender to retain their rights.
- Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA): Players with expiring contracts who have less than three accrued seasons.
- Transition Players: Designated by their teams, these players have expiring contracts and can receive offers from other teams, but their original teams can match the highest offer and retain them.
Salary Cap Situation:
The Steelers currently rank eighth in the NFL in salary cap space entering 2025, with approximately $53.26 million available, according to OverTheCap. This provides the team with some flexibility to make key signings and retool their roster.
Free Agency Timeline:
- Negotiating Period: Begins two days before the start of free agency.
- Free Agency Begins: Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 4 p.m. ET.
Looking Ahead:
The Steelers face important decisions in the upcoming offseason as they aim to continue their success and compete in the highly competitive AFC North. They have some key players hitting free agency, a need to solidify the quarterback position, and limited salary cap space to work with. However, with a proven coach like Mike Tomlin at the helm, the Steelers have the experience and leadership to navigate these challenges and remain a force in the NFL.
