NFL Admits To Seriously Shafting Steelers With 1 Part Of Their 2025 Schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers found out their 2025 official schedule, as did the rest of the NFL. It’s an exciting time of the offseason, as football fans finally get to see who their team will be playing and when in the upcoming season. For the Steelers, one of the most anticipated matchups is in Week 4, on Sunday, September 28, when they’ll take on the Minnesota Vikings at 9:30 a.m. ET. What makes this game especially thrilling for Steelers fans is that it marks an International Series matchup, giving Steeler Nation a rare opportunity to watch their team play overseas.

The NFL has been expanding its global presence, and Pittsburgh is now a part of that effort. Following the international trip, the Steelers will have their bye in Week 5. This early bye should allow the Steelers time to recover and reset after a major travel commitment.

Mike North, the NFL’s Vice President of Broadcast Planning & Scheduling, appeared on 93.7 The Fan with Donny Football on Wednesday evening to talk about the schedule. Donny asked an interesting question about whether teams coming off international games request a bye week, and specifically, if the Steelers asked for one after Dublin. 

"When we were first kind of dipping our toe into the water on international games, we were incredibly accommodating about the byes," North said. "Like, oh my goodness, if you are going to London for a game, of course you need your bye, because that is a long trip."

North explained that while some teams do request it, the league doesn’t guarantee it anymore.

In the Steelers’ case, it worked out naturally in the schedule—whether they requested it or not, the timing lined up in their favor.

"But if you think about it, like for the Steelers for instance, like going over to Dublin and playing in the afternoon and then coming back," North said, "They are probably back in their facility by, like, midnight. Like, that is less than if you played at San Fran or Seattle. These international games, at least in the UK and Europe, are becoming more routine, so we got rid of the rule that said teams had the option to get the bye. Now the byes fall where they fall. I don’t know if the Steelers were happy with their bye in Week 5."

North talked a lot about how the Steelers actually had some hidden perks built into their schedule. While a Week 5 bye is not ideal for most teams because it comes so early in the season, the Steelers' situation is a little different. North suggested that, in this case, the timing might make more sense given what the team is facing at the start of the year.

Traveling overseas, adjusting to the time difference, and playing in a different environment can wear on a team both physically and mentally. In that context, having a bye week immediately after the first stretch of the season gives the Steelers a chance to catch their breath and get back on track before the heart of the schedule begins.

Steelers Get Fed Silver-Lining From NFL Schedule Creator

North pointed out that the early bye, while unconventional, could actually help the Steelers stabilize after that long international trip. It allows them to regroup and reset in a way that might be more valuable than a later bye week. 

He also noted that the Steelers will play a Thursday night game in Week 7 at the Cincinnati Bengals. That short-week game typically comes with a longer break afterward, something teams refer to as a "mini bye." While the Week 5 bye may not look great at first glance, the overall structure of the Steelers' schedule may provide more rest than people realize according to North.

#SteelerNation