Steelers slated to hold a joint practice with the Buccaneers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in talks with doing something they once did regularly, but haven’t done in quite a while.

For the comedians out there, I’m not talking about winning a playoff game. I’m talking about holding a joint practice.

What might have been forgotten by many, the team did hold a joint practice in 2024 when the Buffalo Bills and Steelers practiced at Acrisure Stadium ahead of the team’s preseason game. A similar situation might be in the works, and the Steelers proverbial “dance partner” would be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told the Pewter Report podcast the team is finalizing some joint practices, and the Steelers were listed as one of the teams.

#Bucs head coach Todd Bowles broke some news on the @PewterReport Podcast – the Buccaneers are finalizing joint practices with both the Titans and the Steelers during training camp.

Tampa Bay hosts Tennessee on Aug. 9 and travels to Pittsburgh on Aug. 16 in the preseason.

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) June 2, 2025

Before 2024, the last time the Steelers held a joint practice was with the Detroit Lions in 2016. Before the Lions joint practice, the Steelers hosted the Buffalo Bills at Saint Vincent College for a workout. Why did it take so long after the restrictions of 2020, and after, were lifted? General manager Omar Khan said last offseason that the team has been open to them, but other factors have prevented them from doing it more often.

Since the Steelers will host the Buccaneers for a Week 2 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. it makes sense the two teams could have a workout together before the preseason contest.

One reason why a lot of teams stopped joint practices is based on the physicality of those workouts. Fights are a common thread among teams who have players not just itching to hit someone in a different color jersey, but are fighting for their football lives. It can create a hostile environment, and some coaches might not feel it is conducive to anything positive.

Nonetheless, coaches on all levels often talk about how these workouts can be the perfect primer to the preseason as they can set up scenarios and situations which can help their team fine tune their work before the regular season. With talks of an 18-game regular season on the horizon, and the preseason being cut even more when that happens, you can expect these type of joint practices to become more common in the NFL to help prepare teams for the season.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for Week 2 of OTAs and next week’s Mandatory Minicamp.