PITTSBURGH — Patrick Queen was eagerly anticipating a contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens as he approached free agency last spring. However, the offer never materialized, leaving him feeling more rejected than he had initially expected. “I wasn’t wanted back,” Queen stated candidly on Wednesday, reflecting on his departure from Baltimore and the fresh start he found with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I didn’t get an offer back. But you know, it’s definitely kind of upsetting.”
As late summer approached, and the excitement of his move to Pittsburgh began to wear off, Queen came to terms with the situation. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that there will be emotional moments when the Steelers (7-2) face off against the Ravens (7-3) this Sunday, especially with first place in the AFC North on the line. “I will have feelings, obviously anybody in my position would this week,” Queen admitted.
The Steelers made a significant investment to acquire Queen during free agency, hoping he would improve a linebacker position that has struggled since Ryan Shazier’s career-ending injury in late 2017. The 25-year-old linebacker started the season slowly; however, in recent weeks he has begun to excel. His jersey number, No. 6, has been a blur as he makes impactful plays that characterize one of the league’s top defenses.
Although he’s still pursuing his first sack in Pittsburgh, Queen’s contributions have included four tackles for loss and three deflected passes. His presence has been particularly invaluable in defending against the run. This will be crucial, as Lamar Jackson and the rest of Queen’s former teammates, who possess the league’s top offense, will visit Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
Jackson and his teammates recognized Queen’s success when he signed with Pittsburgh, congratulating him on “securing the bag,” a term used in the NFL for landing a lucrative contract. Despite this camaraderie, Queen has chosen to limit contact with his former colleagues, including Roquan Smith, his fellow linebacker who was integral to their success together in Baltimore. Queen notes that part of his motivation to join the Steelers was to prove his talent wasn’t just a byproduct of playing alongside Smith, a two-time All-Pro.
While Queen didn’t outright state he would have preferred to stay in Baltimore had they pursued a contract with him, it’s evident that his previous connections with the team remain significant, and ending those professional ties was a tough pill to swallow. “I definitely did feel a certain type of way, the whole situation,” he remarked, adding that he hasn’t had any communication with Ravens coach John Harbaugh since his exit. “But I’m over it now.”
The Steelers are enjoying their best start since 2020, and Queen is eager to embrace the role of a “villain,” as Coach Mike Tomlin puts it, in this historic rivalry.
One of the highlights for Queen will be the opportunity to tackle Jackson, something that was prohibited during his time in Baltimore. He joked about how he could usually only manage to touch Jackson in practices, an occurrence that was rare. “We all know the type of athlete he is, how fast he is, how dynamic he is,” Queen said. “I would do my best to get in position to try and make a play.”
Pittsburgh has historically fared well against Jackson, holding a 3-1 record against him as a starter and limiting him to just four touchdown passes while intercepting him seven times. Despite Jackson’s impressive performance this season, he will be opposed by a defense that has shown the capability to contain him where others have failed. Queen noted, “(They keep) everything simple, trying to get after him, not let him do what he does.”
This strategy proved effective last week in a close win over Washington, where the Steelers managed to keep rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in check. However, facing the Ravens and one of the NFL’s brightest stars will present a different challenge.
Though a bit of playful banter with his old friends might arise during the game, Queen believes it’s all part of the competition. He acknowledges that when competing against someone he truly dislikes, he might say things he later regrets, but with his former teammates, those feelings are much different. “The older I got, the more I do it,” Queen explained. “It’s just who I am now. I can’t control that. I can’t take it back. It’s just me.”
And now, Queen proudly identifies himself as a Steeler.