The Steelers released their 2025 schedule on Wednesday night, and like many in Steelers Nation, the players were paying attention, taking a look to see what is coming in the fall.
"It makes it a little more real," said special teams captain Miles Killebrew. "It feels like the season is almost here. I feel like once the schedule comes out, it's real. We know who our opponents are, and we are starting off in New York in the regular season."
While Killebrew was aware of what the schedule was, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was on the opposite spectrum. He is a player who doesn't pay attention to the schedule release and all the fanfare that comes with it. He simply knows what the job is.
"I know every year at this point we are going to have 17 games," said Fitzpatrick. "I am in the building working now, and I know why I am working. It's because of those games."
And of those 17 games, the Steelers will be featured in four primetime matchups, something every player enjoys and knows what an honor it is.
"It's about our brand," said receiver Calvin Austin III. "The logo that we wear carries weight and tradition. To be a part of the primetime games, those can be life changing moments. It's cool to be in those moments and represent the black and gold."
The Steelers have two primetime games at home, including Oct. 26 against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football and Dec. 15 against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
"I love to be able to show the entire nation what we are capable of," said defensive lineman Keeanu Benton. "I feel like the primetime games are an opportunity to do so. The key, though, is we try to not make those games bigger than any other games and just play our hardest."
The team also plays two primetime games on the road, Oct. 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football and Nov. 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
"It's always a good thing to have games in primetime," said Killebrew. "I'm from Las Vegas originally, and so my friends back home can see it a little bit easier.
"We know that the whole nation's watching, and we also know all games are important, these just hit different."
Rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, grew up watching NFL games alongside his dad and can't wait for his opportunity to play under the bright lights.
"It's going to be awesome," said Sawyer. "As a little kid you were always watching the games, waiting for the Monday Night Football song to come on, or the Sunday Night Football song. Now we have Thursday too. It's been a dream of mine for a while. I am super excited.
"It's fun to see the schedule. I'm super juiced to contribute to the team any way I can and be a part of this great organization, playing in primetime games is what comes with being a Pittsburgh Steeler. So, I'm super fired up about it."
Another highlight on the Steelers schedule is the Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, which is then followed by the team's bye week.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. I am excited for it," said Killebrew. "It should be a good one.
"I am excited our bye is after the Ireland game. We are going to need our rest after that long flight back."
The season opens with a road game against the New York Jets, an opportunity for free agent cornerback Brandon Echols to play against his former team for the first time. Echols spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Jets before signing with the Steelers in the offseason.
He got his first look at the schedule on Thursday morning and smiled when he saw Week 1.
"Yeah, that's going to be cool," said Echols with a grin. "It's going to be cool being back in New York for the first time, especially at the beginning of the season. I am ready. I hope they are preparing like I am preparing.
"I came from there, it's going to be fun going against some of my guys for the first time, especially starting the season. I am excited."
The season ends with a bang, with two straight AFC North games, the Cleveland Browns on the road and the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium to end the season strong.
"I think it's very fitting," said Austin "For us to play two of our biggest rivals, two division opponents, as the season ends, it's definitely very fitting."
| Week | Date | Opponent | TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRE 1 | Aug. 9 | at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sat.) | 7:00 PM | TBD |
| PRE 2 | Aug. 16 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sat.) | 7:00 PM | CBS/KDKA |
| PRE 3 | Aug. 21 | at Carolina Panthers (Thurs.) | 7:00 PM | TBD |
| 1 | Sept. 7 | at New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 14 | vs. Seattle Seahawks | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sept. 21 | at New England Patriots | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Sept. 28 | vs. Minnesota Vikings (Dublin) | 9:30 AM | NFLN |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct. 12 | vs. Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Oct. 16 | at Cincinnati Bengals (Thurs.) | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 8 | Oct. 26 | vs. Green Bay Packers | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 9 | Nov. 2 | vs. Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Nov. 9 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 11 | Nov. 16 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | at Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Nov. 30 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Dec. 7 | at Baltimore Ravens | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 15 | vs. Miami Dolphins (Mon.) | 8:15 PM | ESPN/ABC |
| 16 | Dec. 21 | at Detroit Lions | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 17 | Dec. 28 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Baltimore Ravens | TBD | TBD |
In 2006, the NFL implemented "flexible scheduling," a procedure designed to promote quality matchups on Sunday nights and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime. For the 2025 season, flexible scheduling will include Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football.
Please note that the NFL is continuously reviewing its scheduling procedures to ensure exciting and meaningful games are available for viewing by the largest number of fans and so further changes to flexible scheduling could be implemented in the future.
Current Flexible Scheduling Procedures
Flexible scheduling is in effect during the following windows (the "Flex Scheduling Windows"):
For Sunday Night Football, it may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and any week during Weeks 11-17.
For Monday Night Football it may be used any week in Weeks 12-17.
For Thursday Night Football it may be used up to twice between Weeks 13-17.
During the Flex Scheduling Windows, the games initially scheduled for Sunday Night Football (on NBC), Monday Night Football (ESPN or ABC), and Thursday Night Football (on Prime Video) are tentatively scheduled and subject to change.
Only Sunday afternoon games (or those listed as TBD) are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, Monday night, or Thursday night, in which case the initially scheduled Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night game would be moved to Sunday afternoon.
Sunday afternoon games may also be moved between 1:00 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET.
Scheduling for Week 18:
As in prior seasons, for Week 18, the final weekend of the season, the scheduling of the Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and the Sunday night games is not assigned.
The schedule for Week 18 will be announced at the conclusion of Week 17.
Additional Flexible Scheduling Information:
The game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, or Thursday Night Football during the Flex Scheduling Windows will generally be listed at 8:20 p.m. ET, 8:15 p.m. ET, and 8:15 p.m. ET, respectively.
The majority of games on Sundays will typically be listed at 1:00 p.m. ET during the Flex Scheduling Windows except for games played in Pacific or Mountain time zones, which will be listed at 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. ET.
For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 5-13 and for Monday Night Football in Weeks 12-17, the NFL will decide and announce no later than 12 days in advance of the game, which game will be played on Sunday night and which game will be played on Monday night.
For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 14-17, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than 6 days prior to the game.
For Thursday Night Football in Weeks 13-17, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than 21 days prior to the game.
Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in the Flex Scheduling Windows are subject to change generally at least 12 days in advance (and at least 6 days in advance for Sundays in Weeks 14-17) and should plan accordingly.
