Steelers' Patrick Queen Handed Major New Role By Patrick Graham Before Bengals Showdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned their defense around during a four-game winning streak, and one relationship has a lot to do with it. First-year Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham has handed linebacker Patrick Queen more control of the defense than he has ever had in Pittsburgh. The timing could not be better. On Sunday night, Queen will try to outthink Joe Burrow, his former college teammate, with first place in the AFC North on the line.

Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailed the arrangement on Wednesday. Graham often runs his defensive meetings by speaking directly to Queen, who then gets the message to the rest of the unit. Graham told Fittipaldo it took time to get there, and that he warned Queen early on that the two would spend more time together than Graham spends with his own assistant coaches.

"I would say, really, the last two weeks I felt it becoming like how I want it," Graham said.

Queen has been the defensive signal-caller since he signed with the Steelers in 2024. What has changed is how much he is allowed to do in that role. According to Fittipaldo, Graham has also asked him to adjust the defense based on the offensive formation and on whatever the quarterback changes at the line of scrimmage. That is a job Queen did not have under former Head Coach Mike Tomlin and former Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin.

Queen explained the difference to Fittipaldo in simple terms.

"In the past, it was more what play was coming," Queen said. "Now, it's what play is coming and what check do we want?"

The 27-year-old said it is a responsibility he wants, and that he enjoys the chess match with the opposing quarterback or play-caller. SteelerNation previously covered Queen's issues with the previous coaching staff, which makes the trust Graham has shown him stand out even more.

Steelers Need Patrick Queen At His Best Against Joe Burrow

The added responsibility has shown up in Queen's own play. After a slow start to the season, he had 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks over the last two games, according to the Post-Gazette. His sack of New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough with 5:30 left helped close out the win in Paris, and the Saints never got the ball back.

He followed that with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns, a game in which the Steelers sacked Cleveland quarterbacks eight times. SteelerNation looked at how Graham sparked the defensive revival after that performance.

Now comes the toughest test of the new setup. Burrow leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes and has thrown for 2,386 yards, according to NBC Sports. He has at least four total touchdowns in four straight games, and he threw for 282 yards and three scores against Pittsburgh in Week 3, even though the Steelers won 30-27.

His receivers are just as dangerous. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each topped 90 yards and scored a touchdown in the first meeting, and Chase had 10 catches for 155 yards last week against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid.

Queen and Burrow know each other well. They won a national championship together at LSU, and both were first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Burrow went first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, while Queen went 28th to the Baltimore Ravens. They have been AFC North rivals ever since.

Queen told Fittipaldo that Burrow is far more advanced than he was in college and may be the best quarterback in the league right now. He also said the key is not giving anything away before the snap, because Burrow will pick a defense apart if one player tips the coverage. SteelerNation covered Queen's view of how much Burrow has changed earlier this week.

That is exactly where Queen's new role matters. If Burrow changes the play at the line, it is now on Queen to answer with a check of his own. Graham built the defense to run through his middle linebacker, and Sunday night will show how far that partnership has come.

A win would give the Steelers a season sweep and sole possession of first place. If the defense holds up against the hottest quarterback in football, the linebacker making the calls will deserve a lot of the credit.

This story was produced with the help of AI and reviewed by SteelerNation editors.

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