The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off OTAs this week under a familiar cloud—uncertainty under center. For a team historically known for stability and strength at quarterback, 2025 is beginning on shaky ground. No Ben Roethlisberger. No Russell Wilson. And so far, no Aaron Rodgers.
While the front office continues to wait for a decision regarding the upcoming campaign, the players on the field are focused on the task at hand: working with those who are there. Among them is defensive captain Patrick Queen, who’s stepping into a leadership role with intensity, honesty, and a hint of fanhood.
“I'm happy with the guys we have right now,” Queen said when asked about the team’s quarterback situation, via Chris Adamski of TribLive. “But the little fan in me, I grew up a fan of Aaron Rodgers.”
That small moment of candor says it all. Queen, an All-Pro linebacker who knows what it means to lead a defense, still couldn’t help but acknowledge what Rodgers could mean to the Steelers.
Not just for the offense but for the entire team. It’s a sentiment that echoes through the halls of the franchise, and definitely through the fanbase.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a better with Aaron Rodgers under center
Let’s be real. Without Rodgers, it’s Will Howard or Mason Rudolph taking the reins. And while both have upside—Rudolph with experience, Howard with raw potential—it’s hard to deny the anxiety that surrounds the quarterback depth chart.
The Steelers haven’t had a marquee name at QB since Big Ben hung up his cleats, and now more than ever, the team needs a stabilizing presence.
But the focus, especially from the defense, isn’t shifting. Queen is leading a unit that looks poised to carry the team, again. And while that’s nothing new for Pittsburgh, the ceiling of this team would rise significantly with a quarterback like Rodgers under center.
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Until then, Patrick Queen and the rest of the squad will continue to show up, grind, and get better. That’s what professionals do. But you can’t help but feel that everyone, from Queen to the die-hards in the stands, is quietly hoping Rodgers picks up the phone.
So the wait continues. Will Aaron Rodgers make Patrick Queen’s childhood dream a reality? Or will the Steelers once again lean on a bruising defense to survive a grueling campaign?
Either way, Queen is ready. Let’s hope the offense is too.