Patrick Queen is like many people now, just waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision about whether he'll play in 2026. But unlike some who might be fatigued by Rodgers' annual play-or-don't-play hesitation, Queen is willing to ride out the process if it means there's a chance to run it back with the future Hall of Fame QB.
"He's a great dude, he's a great teammate. I like him personally," the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker told Good Morning Football on Tuesday. "Is he gonna be back? I don't know. That's kind of a thing for Aaron and the team to figure out.
"But hell, I'll take him. Dude is a great teammate, he's a great quarterback."
Could Queen imagine Rodgers not returning for one more season? The two-time Pro Bowler wasn't promising anything but did suggest that unfinished business might play a role in Rodgers' decision.
"I can and can't (imagine it), like it's 50-50," Queen said. "He's older, he's experienced a lot, he did a lot. He doesn't really owe the game anything.
"But at the same time, I think the competitor in him definitely wants to get back out on the field. Especially how last year ended, I know he just wants to get back from that. I couldn't imagine what's going through his mind. At the end of the day, it's his decision. I respect whatever he does. But definitely would love to have him back."
Queen did offer one encouraging sign, inadvertent or not, suggesting that the Steelers defense needed to help out Rodgers -- or whoever the quarterback will be -- a bit more.
"We all know him, we all love him. He knows how to win. We just gotta be better for him, get the ball back to him more times so we can have more chances to go down there and score," Queen said.
The Steelers LB is already gearing up for major change in 2026. That was guaranteed when Mike Tomlin stepped down, replaced by longtime head coach Mike McCarthy. Queen suggested that part of the reason he left the Ravens for the Steelers was to play for Tomin, so it was very emotional to see him leave his post after nearly 20 years.
"It was crazy, especially when you come to a team for a guy like that," Queen said. "You want to be coached by the best, and that's how everybody looked at him. That's how we still feel about him. It sucked. It was random, like it just sucked the energy out of the entire place where, like, people started crying on the spot.
"It was just a moment I don't think a lot of people experience unless you went through something where the players were connected with the coach like that. So it definitely sucked. I learned a lot from Mike T. He was a good guy, good coach, one of the hardest workers I've ever known. Loved football, loved the game, loved to watch it all day. It's just unfortunate that he left a little early."
Still, Queen said McCarthy has kept the energy and organization flowing, even during the awkward transition.
"He's fired up, man. He's a good dude," Queen said. "You can tell he loves football. He's very organized, detailed. It's just the way he approaches it.
"We'll know more going into the next few weeks of how he wants everything done and what to expect and all that. But from what I can tell … he's really energetic and really thinks Pittsburgh football can get back."
Will Rodgers be part of that revival? Reports have suggested that Rodgers could inform the Steelers of his plans prior to next week's NFL Draft.
