Expectations were sky high for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in 2025, but they finished as one of the league’s worst units. Was the collection of talent overhyped, or was the coaching staff failing to put them in the best position to succeed? We are going to find that out in 2026, and ILB Patrick Queen seems excited.
When asked on X whether he was excited to play under a new defensive coordinator in 2026, Queen didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely,” he wrote.
To be clear, Queen wasn’t directly calling out Austin here. Maybe he’s just that excited to work for new DC Patrick Graham — or perhaps a combination of both.
Tensions reached a breaking point late last season after a stretch of disappointing defensive play. Patrick Queen pointed to “schematic issues” with the defense. It was a rare pointing of the fingers toward the coaching staff. So much so that Teryl Austin ended up responding to those comments.
Cam Heyward even acknowledged there were schematic issues, though he took the veteran leader route by making sure to share the blame with player execution as well. But the fact that scheme was brought into the conversation was telling.
If this was a subtle dig at Austin, he wouldn’t be the only one to do so. Former Steelers S Juan Thornhill sounded off on TikTok about being misused in Pittsburgh’s offense. He was much more direct, saying he “didn’t enjoy playing for that DC.”
Queen enters a pivotal season for his career. After signing a lucrative three-year contract before the 2024 season, he is set to hit the free agent market next March. He hasn’t quite played up to expectations for his $41 million contract, but he’s been durable and dependable as the green dot communicator in the middle of the defense.
If Graham can help him back to his Pro Bowl form from Baltimore, he will be in position to cash in once again next offseason.
The Steelers invested heavily in their defense, and few players have more riding on Graham’s arrival than Queen. If Pittsburgh’s struggles last season were more about scheme than talent, the new defensive coordinator’s impact should become evident quickly.
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