Steelers' Beloved Camp Tradition Faces Surprising Change

The Pittsburgh Steelers will still make their annual trip to Latrobe, PA at the end of July, but one of the most familiar parts of training camp may look different under a new head coach. For years, Steelers training camp had certain checkpoints fans and reporters could count on. "Seven Shots" became one of the most watched competitive periods. "Backs on Backers" became one of the most intense drills on the hillside at Saint Vincent College. Those moments were not just practice periods. They were part of the viewing experience, especially during the Mike Tomlin era.

Now, with Mike McCarthy running the operation, those traditions may not be guaranteed. Insider Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Locked On Steelers joined 93.7 The Fan and was asked what could change when the Steelers report to training camp. Carter pointed to what he did not see during Organized Team Activities and minicamp this offseason as a possible sign of what is coming.

"OTAs and minicamp, I didn’t see Seven Shots once, so that’s a sign that that’s pretty much gone," Carter said.

That would be a notable shift. Seven Shots became one of the easiest ways to track competitiveness at camp. It gave the offense and defense a short-yardage, goal-line feel. It also created instant conversation. A touchdown mattered. A defensive stop mattered. A young player flashing in that setting could become a camp talking point. Both units had seven tries to prove themselves.

That does not mean the Steelers need the drill to function. McCarthy has coached for a long time, won a Super Bowl, and has his own structure. He is not required to keep Tomlin’s favorite camp periods because fans and reporters grew used to them.

Still, removing Seven Shots would be symbolic. The Steelers already look different. Tomlin is gone, McCarthy is in charge, and much of the staff has changed. A previous SteelerNation story noted that Pittsburgh is turning the page after an extremely long era, and training camp is where that difference may become more visible.

The same goes for Backs on Backers. That drill has always carried a special kind of energy because it strips football down to a simple battle. A running back or tight end has to protect. A linebacker has to attack. There is nowhere to hide. It is physical, loud, and easy for fans to understand. Carter said he would miss it if McCarthy removes or changes that period too.

"If we don’t get Backs on Backers, it will be missed, and a lot of people are going to be looking for something," Carter explained.

He is right about that part. Fans do not just go to Latrobe to watch players stretch and run through installation periods. They want competition. They want moments that feel like football. They want drills where a rookie can win a rep against a veteran and become a name to watch.

Backs on Backers provided that. It also mattered because of what the drill revealed. A running back who cannot protect the quarterback is hard to trust on game day. A linebacker who cannot win in space may have limitations in pressure packages. The drill was entertaining, but it also had evaluation value.

McCarthy may simply have a different way to evaluate the same traits. That is the important part. Changing a drill does not mean lowering the standard. It means the new staff may have different methods, priorities, or rhythm. McCarthy’s camp could still be demanding, physical, and memorable. It just may not feature the same moments Steelers fans are used to seeing.

Steelers' Training Camp Could Feel Noticeably Different

The first year of a new head coach always comes with curiosity, but this one feels bigger because Pittsburgh had so much continuity. Tomlin shaped how the public viewed Steelers camp. His phrases, drills, tempo, and competitive periods became part of the summer routine.

McCarthy now gets to build his own version. That might disappoint some fans. Seven Shots and Backs on Backers were easy to follow, easy to debate, and easy to turn into daily storylines. Losing both would make camp feel less familiar.

However, the bigger question is whether McCarthy’s approach makes the Steelers better prepared for the season. If his practices are cleaner, sharper, and more aligned with what he wants from the offense and defense, fans will adjust quickly. Winning makes change easier.

For now, Carter’s observation is worth tracking. Seven Shots may be fading. Backs on Backers may not be safe either. That does not mean Steelers training camp will be boring.

It means Latrobe may finally feel like someone else is running it.

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