Though it should come as little surprise for a team that featured QB Aaron Rodgers, DB Jalen Ramsey, DL Cam Heyward, CB Darius Slay (for half the season, anyway), and EDGE T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 roster was old. Very, very old. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell crunched the numbers and after adjusting for snaps played, revealed Pittsburgh to be the second-oldest team last season.

Sharing his results Tuesday, the Steelers had the fourth-oldest offense and defense. In total, they were bumped up to second-oldest overall with an average age of 28.2 years. Only the Washington Commanders were collectively older.

Snap weighted age for 2025*

Five oldest teams: Commanders, Steelers, Vikings, Falcons, Broncos

Five youngest teams: Packers, Jets, Seahawks, Cowboys, Eagles pic.twitter.com/m1NtwgVxHM

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 17, 2026

Pittsburgh has annually been among the oldest groups. A team attempting to win now with veterans instead of rebuilding with rookies. That gambit has kept the Steelers competitive for a playoff spot but unable to find postseason success, again one-and-done last season after a terrible Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. With Heyward returning and Rodgers possibly doing the same, the franchise will again roster some of the league’s oldest players.

Pittsburgh’s free agency additions won’t push that number down much. Wide receiver Michael Pittman turns 29 in October, cornerback Jamel Dean will soon be 30, and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day is 31 three days from now. Safety Jaquan Brisker (27 in April) and running back Rico Dowdle (28 in June) are the youngest signees.

Youth infusion could come in late April. Pittsburgh’s armed with a dozen selections in next month’s draft. It’s doubtful the team will make all 12 but 9-10 picks, an unusually large class for the Steelers, will naturally bring down its age. That may be Pittsburgh’s calculation.

Of course, age is just a number and doesn’t guarantee outcome. Barnwell’s chart doesn’t show a strong correlation between oldest/youngest roster and success. Three of the four oldest teams all failed to make the playoffs. Half of the four youngest teams didn’t advance to the postseason. New England ranked in the top half of age and made the Super Bowl. Seattle was the third-youngest team and hoisted the Lombardi. There’s no clear directive.

Still, Pittsburgh should aim to get younger. This year’s draft has the chance to ensure Barnwell’s next edition will slot the Steelers younger with the chance to build upon the future instead of going all-in for the here-and-now.