AARON RODGERS | PHOTO BY ALYSA RUBIN/PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The anniversary of the founding of the Steelers this week — the 92nd such event — reminds us of the franchise’s storied history and of how much history there’s actually been.

The same could be said for the opening of training camp on July 23.

There’s a very good chance they’ll report to Saint Vincent College as the NFL’s second-oldest team — as far as its collective membership.

NFL Research factored in the offseason additions of Aaron Rodgers (41), Darius Slay (34), Robert Woods (33), Jalen Ramsey (30) and Jonnu Smith (30) and calculated the team’s average age as of July 8 — the day Art Rooney founded the team known as the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 1933 — at 27 years and four days.

Rodgers is the oldest quarterback on an NFL roster. Slay is the second-oldest cornerback and Woods the second-oldest receiver.

Only the Washington Commanders, at 27 years and 247 days, are older, on average.

The winners of the last four Super Bowls all had average ages younger than 27, so the Steelers have that working against them.

Yet history also tells us age is but a number, and any such number can be overcome.

Sports movies provide plenty of inspiring examples of celebrated, against-all-odds last hurrahs.

Such as:

• “The Natural”: When Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) finally joins the hapless New York Knights as a middle-aged never was, manager Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley) is aghast. “People don’t start playing ball at your age, they retire!” Fisher spews with equal parts disgust and disbelief. But soon enough Roy is literally knocking the cover off of baseballs and smashing clocks and light standards while leading the Knights to an improbable pennant on the way to personal redemption. And as it’s happening Pop feels compelled to tell Roy, “You’re the best hitter I ever saw.”

• “Slap Shot”: Player/coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman) begins playing mind games and orchestrating a desperate circus to salvage something from what is destined to be the minor league Charlestown Chiefs’ last season before folding. He gets an assist when opponent Barclay Donaldson (former WHA player Ross Smith) talks a little trash prior to a face-off. “You know what your problem is, Dunlop? You’re too old to play this [expletive] game.” Dave Carlson (Jerry Houser) defends his player/coach’s honor and in the process Dave “Killer” Carlson is born, a metamorphosis commences and the Chiefs eventually become the toughest team in the Federal League and the stars of a championship parade.

• “The Longest Yard (1974 version)”: Prisoner Paul Crewe (Burt Reynolds) has a change of heart and decides not to throw a game against the guards after all. During a furious comeback in the second half, old pro Nate Scarboro (Michael Conrad), who used to grace the Polo Grounds and was only supposed to be coaching, decides to enter the game even though he’s ancient. “You didn’t think I was gonna let you have all the fun?” Scarboro tells his stunned teammates in the huddle. He’s knocked out of the game via a cheap shot but not before miraculously finding the end zone. “After all these years, my first touchdown.” And the Mean Machine finishes the comeback and wins the game.

Classic stories all.

Who says life can’t imitate art?

Mike Prisuta is the sports anchor/reporter for Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show. He’s also the host of the Steelers Radio Network Pregame Show and the color analyst for Robert Morris University men’s hockey broadcasts.