An NFL offseason program consists of three phases, and within those phases all teams without a rookie head coach are permitted to schedule a three-day rookie orientation as well as one mandatory minicamp for veteran players.
The Steelers recently set the dates for their 2015 offseason program.
PHASE ONE
According to the rules of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, Phase One spans the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only. This will begin for the Steelers on Monday, April 20.
PHASE TWO
Phase Two consists of three weeks during which the on-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills, as well as team practice conducted on what the CBA refers to as a "separates" basis. No live contact, or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted during Phase Two, which begins on Monday, May 4 for the Steelers and runs through Thursday, May 21
The NFL Draft will be held on Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2, and the Steelers will hold their rookie minicamp the following weekend – May 8-10. Starting on May 11, any rookies whose colleges already have held graduation ceremonies may stay in Pittsburgh and take part in the final days of Phase Two.
PHASE THREE/OTAs
Phase Three of the offseason program begins on the day after Memorial Day – Tuesday, May 26 – and consists of the next four weeks, during which teams may conduct 10 days of organized team practice activity, or OTAs. During OTAs, there is no live contact permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.
The Steelers are scheduled to begin their OTAs on Tuesday, May 27 – the day after Memorial Day – and they will have three sessions that week, three more the following week, and then four the week after that. The specific dates for the Steelers' 10 OTAs are May 26, May 27, May 28, June 2, June 3, June 4, June 8, June 9, June 10, and June 11.
MANDATORY MINICAMP
The offseason program then will conclude with a mandatory three-day minicamp on June 16-18.
When minicamp is over, then there is approximately a month before training camp opens at Saint Vincent College.
