Patrick Queen Aims to Lead Steelers Defense

Patrick Queen, the new inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is determined to shed the labels that have followed him, particularly the notion that his success with the Baltimore Ravens was solely due to playing alongside All-Pro Roquan Smith. Despite acknowledging Smith's prowess, Queen believes his own impressive stats, including a career-high 133 tackles last season, are not just a result of opponents focusing on Smith. Signing the most lucrative free-agent contract in Steelers history, he aims to prove himself after a revolving door of inside linebackers since Ryan Shazier's injury in 2017. The franchise hopes Queen can finally fill the void left by Shazier, as previous players struggled in that role. Queen's confidence and commitment to the Steelers reflect his childhood dream of playing for the team, further motivating him to succeed in Pittsburgh.