There were no noisemakers or confetti. No ball drop, either.
But at exactly 4 p.m. Wednesday, the NFL officially opened a new league year, marking the start of its 107th season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quietly celebrated what they believe will be a happy new year. They made no previously unknown signings or other acquisitions, and none was widely reported.
The Steelers on Wednesday did formally announce a trio of contract extensions, two of which had already been reported and the other for a reserve offensive lineman who did not get into a game for them last season.
But with the 52-hour “legal tampering period” behind them, the Steelers embarked on the 2026 NFL season’s first full official day Thursday with a handful of roster needs yet unfilled.
It’s important to note that while the true frenzy of NFL free agency came and went earlier this week, the Steelers traditionally keep shopping well into late March and beyond.
Last year, for example, the Steelers agreed to terms and formally announced five significant signings and one major trade over the first 96 hours of “legal tampering” (that began at noon Monday this year). But they also made 11 signings/extensions over the ensuing five weeks leading into the NFL Draft.
This spring, those moves yet to be made could likely be at guard, the defensive line and (another) wide receiver.
Oh, and don’t forget about quarterback, where for the second consecutive spring the Steelers are waiting on quadragenarian Aaron Rodgers to inform them if he’s signing for the upcoming season.
The news has been quiet regarding Rodgers this week, but that was overshadowed by the Steelers’ trade for receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and the signings of cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Rico Dowdle.
In lower-profile moves, the Steelers this week agreed to add a pair of veterans in safety Darnell Savage and punter Cameron Johnston. They also re-signed cornerback Asante Samuel, inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo and offensive lineman Jack Driscoll.
Of that group, only Holcomb (two years), Johnston and Driscoll have been officially announced, with Driscoll — who joined the Steelers in October and was in uniform for five games but never got onto the field — only coming to light Wednesday.
The only other formally announced transaction by the Steelers was the one-year extension given to longtime defensive captain Cameron Heyward, a move that was confirmed Tuesday.
The Steelers are expected to announce the moves involving Pittman, Dean, Dowdle, Samuel and Otomewo soon, with the caveat that this week’s collapse of the Las Vegas-Baltimore trade involving Maxx Crosby has reinforced with everyone that nothing is official until it’s official.
Aside from quarterback — where it is still widely believed Rodgers will come back at age 42 for a second season with the team — the Steelers have plenty of work to do in building their 2026 roster. A priority is at left guard, where their starter for three seasons, Isaac Seumalo, departed for a contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Steelers were linked to 26-year-old interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman, who on Wednesday became an unrestricted free agent when the Dallas Cowboys declined to make him a qualifying offer. A signing such as that would signal the Steelers want competition for Spencer Anderson (and maybe a draft pick) as they look to find Seumalo’s successor at starting left guard.
Even after the addition of Pittman, the Steelers remain at least a man or two short of a serious wide receivers corps, with DK Metcalf the only other established player.
And Otomewo is only one of what will probably end up as two to three veteran defensive lineman to supplement a starting group of Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon along with young reserves Yahya Black and Logan Lee.
With the understanding that the draft is still to come, the rest of the roster has a framework of a starting unit. That leaves flexibility to add bargain free agents and to adhere to a draft board that allows the Steelers to take the best player available.
Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline for extending qualifying offers to restricted free agents came and went without the Steelers tendering offensive lineman Ryan McCollum, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, defensive tackle Jacob Slade or punter Corliss Waitman (Otomewo also fell under this category).
Some could still be back with the Steelers, just not at the rates established by the collective bargaining agreement for the team to keep their rights.
But with those procedural moves out of the way and the league year underway, rest assured the Steelers aren’t quite done shaping their roster via free agency.