According to NFL research, the Steelers will have the second-oldest roster in the NFL behind only Washington.
But that doesn't tell the true story. When you have a 41-year-old quarterback, it skews the numbers a bit.
In fact, if Rodgers is taken out of the equation, the Steelers' average age of 27 years and 4 days drops well under 27 and puts them with the likes of San Francisco (26 years, 265 days), Atlanta (26 years, 248 days) and Houston (26 years, 218 days).
That's significant because each of the past four Super Bowl champions have all had rosters that were 26 years old and change, with the highest being last year's Eagles, who came in at 26 years and 244 days.
The 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the last team to win the Super Bowl with a roster over 27 years in average age. They were at 27 years, 153 days, a number that was skewed by 43-year-old quarterback Tom Brady.
That team also had three defensive starters 30 or older in Ndamukong Suh (33), edge rusher Jason Pierre Paul (31) and linebacker Lavonte David (30). But it also had a younger offensive line, with 29-year-old Ryan Jenson being the elder statesman. Many of the other 30-year-olds were backup players such as Antonio Brown, quarterback Blaine Gabbert, centers Ted Larson and AQ Shipley, running back LeSean McCoy and a few others.
It's actually an eerily similar build to what the Steelers have this year.
They have an older defensive tackle who anchors the line. They had a 30-year-old edge rusher and a younger offensive line. They have some 30-year-old players who while they will be counted upon, might not be counted on to be full-time players.
And both teams have an aging future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who is considered a top-5 player at the position all-time.
The only difference is that Brady was 43, while Aaron Rodgers is 41.
So, yes, the Steelers' roster is a bit older than most, but it's not remarkably so. It's still a roster that can compete for a championship if things fall right.
• Brady that season was coming off his final year in New England, one in which he threw for 4,057 yards, but threw just 24 touchdown passes against eight interceptions.
Rodgers, meanwhile, threw for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions last season in New York.
In his first season in Tampa, Brady threw for 4,633 yards with 40 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, showing the old cowboy still had some game in him.
Star quarterbacks – real star quarterbacks – tend to fade away slowly because they can still win above the neck. Rodgers fits into that category the same way Ben Roethlisberger did.
Roethlisberger didn't have the arm strength after his 2019 elbow surgery that he had prior to that. But he still had enough to throw for over 7,500 yards with 55 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his final two seasons.
Doubt all-time stars at the quarterback position at your own risk.
• Mike Tomlin's decision to move most training camp practices that are open to the public back to the mid-afternoon might not exactly be a hit with the players, but fans will love it.
The morning practices last year were well-attended, but probably not quite as much as they would have been had they occurred in the afternoon.
It's a little more hot in the afternoon, but it gives local fans a chance to work in the morning and then head to camp.
Remember that you do need tickets to attend training camp practices. They are free and available at https://www.ticketmaster.com/pittsburgh-steelers-training-camp-tickets/artist/2901876.
• This will be an important training camp for the Steelers. With what looks to be at least 11 new starters in their lineup – at least at their respective positions - every practice session will be precious.
I'm often asked why the Steelers still feel it necessary to go away to Saint Vincent College for three weeks of camp.
The benefits are many.
First, the coaching staff has the complete attention of the players over the course of the day. There also are no distractions.
And because the players are all lodged together, they get to know each other so much better than if they're just hanging out at the facility and then going home at night. The board games and card games that are played at night are great bonding tools.
And Tomlin does a great job of creating competition not only during practice, but also with some of the activities he creates, such as the home run derby at the end of training camp. That has become a sense of pride for the winners over the years.
Finally, it gives the players a chance to bond with their fans like no other. Sure, the Steelers could open up practices if they held them at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, but finding room for the fans to park and then watch practice would be difficult.
Having practices at Acrisure Stadium would open that up, but there is only one football field, which makes jamming 90 players onto it somewhat difficult.
Saint Vincent College is a perfect site. It's an easy drive from anywhere in the Pittsburgh area and beyond. And after 50 years of practicing there, it's become a big part of the organization.
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast Pittonline@iheartmedia.com
• I'm away on vacation next week, sneaking one in before the start of training camp. So there will be no 5 for Friday next week.
But when we return in two weeks, the Steelers will have a couple of training camp practices - albeit in helmets only - under their collective bets.
To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and take a look around once in a while, you might miss it."
That could definitely be said of an NFL offseason.
