PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Thursday that their 59th season at Saint Vincent College for training camp will begin on Tuesday, July 28.

The team will report on the 28th with the first open practice taking place on Wednesday, July 29. The first padded practice will be held on Monday, Aug. 3. Prior to that, on Saturday, Aug. 1, the Steelers will also announce the 2026 Hall of Honor Class as part of the NFL’s “Back Together” weekend.

Pittsburgh will hold its annual night practice at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. The final open practice will be held, open to the public, on Monday, Aug. 17.

Admission to open practices at Saint Vincent is free, but attendees must have a mobile ticket. Season ticket holders will have early access to secure their tickets on Ticketmaster starting today at 10 a.m. Waitlist members follow at 11:30 a.m. The remaining tickets for the public will be available at 1 p.m.

This will be the first Steelers camp for new head coach Mike McCarthy. The first exhibition game is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, at home against the Green Bay Packers.

Stafford extended

LOS ANGELES — Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2027 season with the Los Angeles Rams.

ESPN reported the deal is worth $55 million. The deal indicates that the 38-year-old Stafford is at least strongly thinking about staying with the Rams past the upcoming season.

Stafford has been in a year-to-year mentality about his future ever since he led the Rams to a Super Bowl championship in February 2022, and the Rams surprised the league by drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick last month.

Bears moving?

CHICAGO — The Bears reiterated Thursday they plan to leave Chicago as they continue to look at building a stadium in suburban Illinois or Hammond, Indiana.

“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said in a statement. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”

The statement, which appears to again close the door on staying in Chicago, comes after team president Kevin Warren said last month at the NFL meetings in Arizona that the Bears were hoping to choose a new site for an enclosed stadium in Illinois or Indiana late this spring or early in the summer.

The Illinois General Assembly responded with legislation that would give tax breaks to so-called megaprojects of at least $100 million, a plan that would encompass the Bears’ proposal to build a complex on a 326-acre tract of land they own in Arlington Heights.

Eagles LB in trouble

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. was arrested last week in Georgia for driving 135 mph in a 70 mph zone, authorities said.

Smith, who played at Georgia, was cited for speeding and reckless driving, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday.

He posted bond and was released shortly after his arrest on May 15.

Smith, from Savannah, Georgia, was selected by the Eagles with the 30th pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He has 25 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over three seasons.

He played a crucial role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run, recording five quarterback hits, four sacks and four tackles for loss during the playoffs. He famously refused to exit the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs despite sustaining a torn triceps that later required surgery.

Philadelphia begins organized team activities on Tuesday. Smith has a court date scheduled for July 15, but a sheriff’s office representative said he will not need to appear if he pays his fines.