Steelers' Patrick Queen And The Truth Behind The Challenge Of Watching Your Former Team Become Your Current Rival

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the largest free agency signing in the franchise's history when they signed former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen. The team needed to make a splash signing at one of their most problematic spots for the past several seasons. 

No one likes their players going to a division rival. However, it has sparked a ton of fun banter between Queen and his former teammates. It started with Queen tweeting things like hoping they go 0-17, and later talking about how the grass is so much greener in Pittsburgh. At one point, he even proclaimed the food in the Steel City tastes better. 

These got the attention of his good friend and former teammate Marlon Humphrey, who said that losing Queen to the Steelers made him really emotional. That didn't last long as he quickly jumped into the back-and-forth good-natured ribbing with Queen. That begs the question of how Queen feels when he sees his former team playing. The Steelers' new middle linebacker recently joined Randy Baumann on WDVE to answer how it was watching the Ravens play the first game of the 2024 season against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

"It was different," admitted Queen. "I kept getting texts from everybody that it's not the same, it's hard not being able to see you out there and stuff. For me, it's just weird. I definitely miss the guys that are on the field. It's definitely a wild thing to go through, but I feel like it's for the better."

Queen had an outstanding season in 2023, with 133 total tackles and an interception. Coming off his rookie deal, he felt he had earned himself a big contract, but the Ravens had already paid Roquan Smith. That allowed Queen to hit free agency, where the Steelers quickly snatched him up. 

He has quickly become a fan favorite and earned the admiration and respect of his teammates and coaches. At times, it almost feels like he has been in Pittsburgh all along. Queen will be wearing the green dot for the defense, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin can't stop singing his praises, saying, "He is a Steeler."   

Baumann asked Queen if it was hard not to cheer for his old team, and he said, "Yes and no." He admitted he caught himself rooting for them and then had to stop himself. The reality is there is an unbreakable bond between teammates; this isn't personal. Queen said he is even rooting for Trenton Simpson, his replacement. But that doesn't mean he won't despise them as much as the next Steeler when they meet in person in Week 11.  

"I texted a couple of them before the game, wishing them good luck; I texted Trenton earlier in the week. It's stuff that the outside doesn't get. When you are around guys every single day for four years, you form a bond. That bond is still there. It's always going to be there. But when we step between the line, I turn into a different person and I don't know them."

Queen was certainly willing to show his "chippiness" during training camp when he got into a good-natured scrum with running back Najee Harris. The Steelers have the highest-paid defense in the NFL, and adding Queen to the mix should take them to the next level.  

Steelers Could Have The Best Defense In The NFL

The Steelers' defense won the team games in 2023 despite the fact that the offense routinely gave them little rest time. The unit is full of household names like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, but the team didn't stop there. They drafted players like Keeanu Benton, Joey Porter Jr., and Payton Wilson on top of the trade for Donte Jackson. 

That defense looks so good heading into the 2024 season that recently, Bill Simmons said on his podcast that he thinks they could be the best defense in their conference. He compared them to the 2023 Cleveland Browns, ranked the top defense for much of the season. 

Are you surprised that Queen finds it hard not to root for his old team? Click to comment below. 

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