Pittsburgh Steelers' key defender gets the last laugh on the Baltimore Ravens following last-minute decision from the NFL
Patrick Queen is the highest-paid free agent signing in Pittsburgh Steelers history. And while he didn't end the year on the highest note, it turns out his prior service is being rewarded. That's because Queen is headed to his second Pro Bowl, and replacing a former teammate… Patrick Queen Replaces Roquan Smith in Pro Bowl […]
Patrick Queen is the highest-paid free agent signing in Pittsburgh Steelers history.
And while he didn't end the year on the highest note, it turns out his prior service is being rewarded.
That's because Queen is headed to his second Pro Bowl, and replacing a former teammate…
Patrick Queen Replaces Roquan Smith in Pro Bowl
Linebacker Patrick Queen was named to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement, replacing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith.
Queen, who signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent during the 2024 offseason, started all 17 games and the Wild Card game at inside linebacker.
Queen, who was selected to the Pro Bowl Games in 2023 while with the Baltimore Ravens, finished the 2024 season with a team-high 129 tackles, which are the fifth-most in a season by a Steelers defender since 1994. He added seven passes defensed,six tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one sack and one fumble recovery.. Queen was the only defender in the NFL in 2024 to record 125 or more tackles, six or more tackles for loss and seven or more passes defended.
– Teresa Varley, Steelers
Queen was signed to revamp a LB corps that took baby steps last year but still needed to be better in 2024. He helped contribute to that, but like the rest of the team, his play began to fade down the stretch.
But there's an irony to this selection. Queen is replacing Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens, whom he played alongside in 2023. Here's the catch though, the Ravens didn't want Queen back, as they declined his fifth-year option and according to him, had no plans of re-signing him…
"I wasn’t wanted back,” Queen said when asked about facing his old team for the first time. "I didn’t get the offer back. It was definitely kind of upsetting, you know, being there for four years and the bond that you grow with your teammates…
"…You put your body on the line every single time that you go out there even when you can barely move your leg or whatever the injury may have been… So I definitely did feel a certain type of way after the whole situation, but I’m over it now."
Guess you can see Queen got the last laugh.
