Their season just ended. The NFL’s lasts another 3 1/2 weeks. Training camp doesn’t open for another six months, and the most likely date for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next meaningful game is 234 days from Thursday.

Time to rest? To take a deep breath? Enjoy some down time?

Not for the Steelers — and certainly not so after they lost their final five games of the season.

“There’s obviously a lot of work to do, to be quite honest with you,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “I’m energized in terms of beginning the process.”

Here are some key dates and storylines and facts to know as the Steelers turn the page to preparations for their 2025 season.

Free agents

Technically, 24 Steelers players are on contracts that expire this spring, although that is a bit misleading for a variety of reasons. Two are exclusive-rights free agents, for example,which effectively means they have no leverage and can be retained for the league minimum salary. Another, No. 1A running back Jaylen Warren, is a restricted free agent, which means the Steelers can retain his rights with a qualifying offer.

That leaves 21 unrestricted free agents, although two of those combined for exactly eight snaps played in 2024. The starters who fit into the UFA category are quarterback Russell Wilson, left tackle Dan Moore, running back Najee Harris, cornerback Donte Jackson, inside linebacker Elandon Roberts, wide receiver Van Jefferson and right guard James Daniels (though Daniels missed the final 14 games because of injury).

Other key contributors who are UFAs include safety Damontae Kazee, No. 2 quarterback Justin Fields, receivers Mike Williams and Ben Skowronek, defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk, defensive back Cameron Sutton, special-teamer Tyler Matakevich, offensive linemen Nate Herbig and Calvin Anderson, tight end MyCole Pruitt and No. 3 QB Kyle Allen.

Extension candidates

Prominent players who are entering the final year of their contracts in 2025 are candidates for a contract extension. This past year, that was limited to tight end Pat Freiermuth. He signed a four-year, $48 million contract days before the team’s longtime self-imposed deadline of the start of the regular season.

Six players who have been starters for the Steelers have contracts that expire next spring and in theory would be eligible for an extension, but Larry Ogunjobi (will be 32 in 2026), DeShon Elliott (typically more of a subpackage player) and Cole Holcomb (his 2023 injury might be career-ending) are not realistic extension candidates. Left guard Isaac Seumalo, 31, is a long shot, too.

That leaves two who are in line for lucrative, long-term contract extensions this summer. They’re big names, too: edge defender T.J. Watt and wide receiver George Pickens.

Draft picks

The Steelers hold the No. 21 pick in the first round of the April 24-26 draft in Green Bay, Wisc.

The Steelers enter the offseason holding their picks — and no one else’s — in Rounds 2-4, on track to select at No. 52, No. 83 and No. 122, respectively (though the fourth-round positioning could change subject to compensatory picks).

A number of trades muddles the second half of the Steelers’ draft. At present, they hold one fifth-round pick and three selections in the seventh round.

Dates to know

Ongoing: Eligible to sign players who did not end the season on any team’s active roster — including their own — to “reserve/future” deals. Also eligible to sign any drafted player who entered the league in 2022 or prior (or any undrafted player who joined the league in 2023 or prior) to an extension.

Feb. 18: Soon-to-be free agents can be designated for the “franchise” or “transition” player tags until March 4. It’s unlikely the Steelers will deploy either.

Feb. 24-March 3: The annual NFL combine in Indianapolis, where prospective draft picks will be vetted. The Steelers will be most interested in wide receivers, defensive linemen, cornerbacks, running backs … and quarterbacks.

March 10: The so-called “legal tampering period” for free agents begins at noon.

March 12: The NFL’s “new league year” begins, when free-agent contracts can be formally signed.

April 21: The formal offseason programs — Phase I of “organized team activities” — begin.

May 9-12: Likely weekend for rookie minicamp

May 13-29: The nine practice-like, on-field “OTAs” likely to be held in this window.

June 3-5: Mandatory minicamp

Week of July 21: Projected reporting day to Saint Vincent College for training camp.

Weekend of Sept. 4-8: Regular season opens.