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The annual pilgrimage began 60 years ago this summer.
Coaches, players, staff and yes fans heading about an hour to the east to Unity Township.
For the 59th time since 1966 (the covid pandemic the lone exception), the Pittsburgh Steelers are conducting training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Players are expected to arrive by Monday, with the official reporting day Tuesday and the first practice scheduled for Wednesday.
Here are five primary storylines to follow over the ensuing three weeks: 1.
New Mike in charge For the first two in two decades, a man other than Mike Tomlin is running things on Chuck Noll Field.
Greenfields Mike McCarthy becomes the fourth coach to direct a Steelers camp since 1969.
And while Tomlin and Bill Cowher before him were young, first-time head coaches who probably didnt have the built-up capital (or, for that matter, the wherewithal) to change things up too much, McCarthy brings with him 18 seasons of being an NFL head coach.
He has some established routines that he probably isnt eager to change at age 62.
As a result, fans (and players) might notice a different way of doing things at camp.
The Seven Shots two-point conversion simulation that Tomlin used to open the team period of every practice? Seemingly done.
Will backs on backers endure? Already, practice start times have been moved up, and the daily schedule altered (Sunday is now an idle day, and Friday Night Lights is on Saturday).
What else might differ under Big Mike from what wed all come to expect from Mike T? 2.
Contract drama? Before the first week of June ended, the Steelers had already agreed to contract extensions with four players who were about to enter the final year of their respective contracts.
That is remarkable in its own right but what makes this particular contract cycle almost unprecedented is that there are four more starting-caliber players who are scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next spring that likewise would be eligible to get extended.
With apologies to Keeanu Benton, Patrick Queen and Spencer Anderson, one among that group stands above the rest.
Joey Porter Jr.
is set to embark on his fourth NFL season on the precipice of perhaps ascending into the hierarchy of the leagues best cornerbacks.
Some metrics, in fact, suggest hes already there.
As such, Porter and his representation surely are aiming to be one of the leagues top-paid corners.
That would require an extension in the neighborhood of $30 million (or more) per season.
Are the Steelers of that same mindset? If not, how and when will the stalemate end? Barring a last-minute salvo, it appears Porter will stage a hold in.
How much of a distraction will that be at Saint Vincent? Will it affect Porters or the defense as a wholes preparation for the season? 3.
Mason vs.
Will The most-watched position battle of camp is for a spot that if all goes as planned wont result in a single regular-season snap played.
Who will be the Steelers backup quarterback? With 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers the starter and third-round pick Drew Allar penciled in as a developmental No.
3, that probably only leaves one available roster spot for Mason Rudolph or Will Howard.
Entering his ninth pro season, Rudolph is a trusted veteran with a resume of winning games for the Steelers.
Howard, at least in theory, as a second-year pro offers hope for the future.
But with a mere sixth-round draft pedigree and with the presence of the higher-ceiling Allar is there truly any belief he can be the franchise QB of the future? The first step would be proving to McCarthy that he can handle spot duty if called upon in 2026.
And that process starts during camp practices, which will be closely watched.
4.
The right stuff on the right side While a division of labor at No.
3-No.
4 wide receiver and among roles in the secondary needs to shake out, the lone true competitions for literal first-team lineup positions are on the right side of the offensive line.
The first question answered in regards to right tackle is if Broderick Jones is cleared to practice or ends up on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday.
If by this point eight months after a neck injury he isnt yet cleared for contact, for better or worse it would be appropriate to write him off as a serious contender to win the starting job.
But even if Jones can practice, where is he physically? And did Dylan Cooks above-the-line, late-season performance while filling in for Jones make Cook the frontrunner to start in 2026 anyway? Then, theres the elephant-sized elephant in the room in 6-foot-6, 321-pound first-round pick Max Iheanachor.
His time isnt expected to come right away but what if he surprises and shows hes ready? Right guard could be a three-man race between Anderson, rookie third-round pick Gennings Dunker and free-agent signee Brock Hoffman.
Anderson was the proverbial next man up after veteran guard Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency.
Hoffman has a history with McCarthy and has started 16 games over the past three seasons.
Dunker, like Iheanachor, is the odds-on favorite to start in, say, 2027 but is he ready now? 5.
Rookie review Every camp is the first public glimpse at a new rookie class.
Iheanachor, Dunker and Allar are arguably the highest-profile for fans, but second-round receiver Germie Bernard is the most likely projected team rookie of the year.
Because of his roots at Mt.
Lebanon and Navy, Eli Heidenreich will draw attention.
Can plus-sized defensive backs Daylen Everette and Robert Spears-Jennings stand out? Will Kaden Wetjen wow with splash plays in the return game? Is Riley Nowakowski destined for folk-hero status befitting a Steelers fullback? Who if anyone among the undrafted rookie class will make a name for himself?.