After months of uncertainty, the NFL finally announced the full schedule for the 2025 season, including the 18-week slate for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Mike Tomlin's 19th year leading the team.
Last year, Pittsburgh had a rough showing down the stretch, coughing up the AFC North before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round of the playoffs. They'd like to make up for that this season.
However, the Steelers have made massive changes to their roster, including losing three quarterbacks from 2024 (Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Kyle Allen) and bringing in a veteran (Mason Rudolph) and a rookie (sixth-round pick Will Howard) to compete for the starting job.
There's also still the chance that four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers takes his talents to Pittsburgh, and while that's far from a certainty at this point, it may be Rodgers best chance to start in 2025.
With schedule release, many experts have already shared their projections for the Steelers' win total this upcoming year, and if Rodgers lands in Pittsburgh, some of those records would probably improve (if they're not already taking his potential signing into consideration).
Steelers 2025 record predictions
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Moe Moton, Bleacher Report: 6-11
"With a backup quarterback in the starting position, Pittsburgh will struggle even if its defense remains stout. Head coach Mike Tomlin will have his first losing season if Rudolph is the lead signal-caller."
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 9-8
"First, how great is it that the NFL put the Steelers in New York against the Jets in Week 1? It’s like the league is baiting Aaron Rodgers to push off retirement to take out his frustrations on his old team. The Steelers better hope he takes the bait, because if he stays in the darkness, their season picture gets a lot dimmer. It’s bad enough that they’re in the AFC’s toughest division, but they also have to play the four teams from the powerful NFC North. And they lose a home game to play the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. There are still a lot of softer spots on the schedule — games at New England and home against the Colts and Dolphins. Plus, they can always lean on their home-and-home against the Browns. But if Mason Rudolph is their quarterback all season, nothing will seem "soft" to them at all."
Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated: 9-8
"If the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh should be a playoff contender. That said, the schedule is brutal. Like the rest of the AFC North, Pittsburgh will get beaten up by some of its rivals, and then also has to play the NFC North. Getting the AFC East is a good thing, sans the Bills, but at least that game is at Acrisure Stadium."
Mike Moraitis, The Sporting News: 10-7
"The Steelers are one of three AFC North squads to make the playoffs, along with the Cincinnati Bengals (first place) and Baltimore Ravens (second place).
"Aaron Rodgers proves to be a slight upgrade over Russell Wilson, but not enough to get the Steelers more than the 10 wins they mustered up in 2024. A lack of playmakers at wide receiver proves to be a major issue once again.
"Head coach Mike Tomlin does, however, continue his streak of .500 or better seasons and Pittsburgh ultimately wins a playoff game, which buys Tomlin yet another season, but the Steelers promptly get bounced in the divisional round."
Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire: 7-10
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