As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for a pivotal 2025 season, one name stands out on Pro Football Focus' most to prove list: linebacker Patrick Queen.
I think that’s where he needs to be.
The Steelers have spent the past few years building with patience and precision. There’s been no panic, no splashy gambles—just calculated moves and a firm belief in the team’s long-term vision.
Now, with the 2025 campaign looming, it’s time for the pieces to come together on the field. Patrick Queen, without question, is one of those pieces.
Queen signed a three-year, $41 million contract with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season after posting a career-high 133 tackles in Baltimore. It felt like the perfect fit. A physical, high-motor linebacker joining a franchise synonymous with punishing defense—the move screamed Steel Curtain revival.
But what we got instead was a season full of inconsistency and missed opportunities.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Patrick Queen to play a huge role during the 2025 season
In 2024, Queen led the team in missed tackles with 22 and ended the year with a 56.8 grade from PFF. It wasn't very reassuring. Not just for fans, but I imagine for Queen himself. That wasn't the version of him we were sold. It certainly is not what he expects from his own game.
I think PFF's Zoltán Buday nailed it by putting Queen on the list. This is a challenge Queen needs. He’s too talented, too driven, and important to this Steelers defense.
I believe this season will be different. Queen has the tools to be a dominant force in Teryl Austin’s system. He’s fast and instinctive, and when he's locked in, he brings the kind of sideline-to-sideline energy that can ignite an entire defense.
Now, with a full offseason under his belt and the sting of last year still fresh, the two-time Pro Bowler seems poised to channel that frustration into production.
The Steelers didn’t sign Queen to fill a roster spot—they saw a potential cornerstone. And if this defense is going to rise to its full potential, Patrick Queen must become exactly that.
The pressure is on. It's what Pittsburgh football is all about. Queen must show the league—and himself—what he’s about.