Steelers Now
ORLANDO, Fla. — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen just finished his first season with the team, and while the Pro Bowl linebacker has two more seasons left on his contract, he’ll go through a big transition this offseason nonetheless.
News broke on Friday that Steelers inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry will be moving on from the team after two seasons, and has taken a job with the New York Jets. So Queen’s second season with the Steelers will come with a new linebackers coach.
“Happy for him and excited for him,” Queen said to Steelers Now at the Pro Bowl on Saturday. “I texted him that it was the best decision for him right now and I can understand that.”
Queen said he learned a lot in his one season with Curry, most notably, the leadership traits that he had to take on during the 2024 season. Queen and been playing alongside fellow Pro Bowl selection Roquan Smith during his final seasons in Baltimore. In Pittsburgh, he was the guy with the radio communications in his ear that had to be the calm, cool and collected voice of the Steelers defense.
“[He taught me] how to be a leader,” Queen said. “When situations aren’t ideal, just stay cool and stay calm, especially having to be the guy being the green dot, just being calm and keeping everyone else calm. I was always the hot-headed one, the tempered one.”
Queen is a Pro Bowler for the second straight year, and statistically, his numbers lined up pretty closely with what he was doing in Baltimore. He had 133 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, six passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery with the Ravens last season. This year in Pittsburgh, he had 129 tackles, six tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The Steelers will begin a search for new talent at the linebacker position, and while that process might be frustrating
“It definitely sucks to have a new linebackers coach coming in, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to bring in somebody good,” Queen said. “Nothing but respect for him.”
Queen will be a part of the AFC defense that is participating in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Sunday. The 7-on-7 flag football contest will kick off at 3 p.m. on Sunday from Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
