Patrick Queen’s Resurgence Could Lead to Steelers Extension After Rocky 2024
The Pittsburgh Steelers had high expectations for linebacker Patrick Queen when they gave him a three-year deal and the green dot in 2024. His first season in Western Pennsylvania was very rocky, as it felt like there were many missed opportunities, mixed with some regression. When conversations came up about him, it was mostly about how he was a product of Roquan Smith and he was just riding on his coattails from their time together with the Baltimore Ravens. 2024 would be his year to prove all those doubters wrong.
During his weekly Q&A chat, Brian Batko was recently asked about those narratives, as well as Queen's performance in 2025 so far. He spoke about how the sixth-year linebacker has done, compared to 2024 and his time in Baltimore.
"I'm seeing Patrick Queen play with more consistency," Batko said. "He showed flashes last year, no doubt, but was frustrated with the final product himself. Now it's coming together more. And to be honest, I never really thought it was a case of the Ravens punting on his ability. They had a younger guy they thought was ready to take on a bigger role waiting in the wings and can't pay everyone."
Queen has definitely looked more comfortable through the first four weeks, especially in Weeks 3 and 4. In those two games, he has combined for 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hit, and two passes defended. He is also on pace to have his lowest missed tackle rate of his career at just 5.4% so far. Overall, he has been playing much cleaner ball while quarterbacking the defense.
That kind of play is exactly what the Steelers wanted to see out of Queen back when they signed him in March of 2024. They didn't buy into the narrative of him being carried by Smith with the Ravens, and that is starting to pay off for them. If he can keep this level of play up, he could earn an extension at season's end. He could be the one helping out younger linebackers in the future, as opposed to the one being helped.
Even when anyone within the organization spoke about Queen during the 2025 offseason, it was all about how his first season in Pittsburgh was not who he was. The frustrations surrounding his 2024 performance was mutual. His second season with the Steelers was seen as a do-or-die season. If he improved, he could stay. If not, he would have been a prime cut candidate. Luckily, he got back to old form.
Steelers Made Life Hard On Queen In 2024
A theme that keeps coming up time and time again is how Head Coach Mike Tomlin runs a very complicated defense. It can be a massive pain for newcomers to understand everything in his scheme. Not only did Queen have to understand everything immediately, but he had to bark out those plays to his teammates every play, since he is essentially the defensive quarterback.
Communication issues plagued the Steelers all throughout the 2024 season, and it led to fingers getting pointed all over the place. More importantly, it led to a massive collapse, as Pittsburgh started off 10-3 before losing out, including an embarrassing defeat to the Ravens in the Wild Card Round that left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.
Those same communication problems have popped up throughout the 2025 campaign as well. However, it seems to be less on Queen and more on the other newcomers trying to understand their role in a very versatile unit. The linebacker's knowledge of the defense, as well as his recent performances, may urge the front office to keep him around for a few more years. Trying to teach another new linebacker how to call the defense could be as problematic as it was when Queen first signed.
Shedeur Sanders Igпites Firestorm Over NFL’s Bad Bυппy Halftime Decisioп
The NFL thought it was rolling out an entertainment headline. Instead, it set off a political earthquake.
On Tuesday, the league proudly announced that global music superstar Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show.
Within hours, the focus shifted away from music to one of the most explosive controversies in recent NFL history courtesy of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders’ Stunning Outburst
In a postgame media session, Sanders didn’t hold back.
His words detonated like dynamite, sparking outrage and debate across sports and culture.
“Bad Bunny is a Spanish-singing puppet of the Left, and the league has just declared war on America!” Sanders declared, his voice tight with frustration.
For a player usually known for his calm demeanor and measured tone, the tirade shocked reporters into silence.
What began as an innocuous announcement about halftime entertainment suddenly transformed into a cultural battlefield – one Sanders was all too willing to step into.
The NFL’s Halftime Gamble
The Super Bowl Halftime Show has always been one of the most-watched events in American entertainment.
In recent years, the league has sought to expand its reach by booking international megastars: Rihanna, Shakira, J Balvin, and now Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap sensation, has sold out stadiums across the globe and dominated charts in multiple languages.
His selection was intended to highlight the NFL’s growing international audience and celebrate diversity.
But for Sanders, and a vocal contingent of fans, the move represented something else entirely.
From Stage to Political Arena
Sanders accused the NFL of caving to cultural forces that he believes have politicized the sport.
His claim that the league was “bowing to Democratic propaganda” struck a nerve, instantly polarizing reactions.
Supporters hailed Sanders as a truth-teller, praising him for voicing frustrations about the NFL’s direction.
Detractors condemned his comments as xenophobic and divisive, arguing that Bad Bunny’s artistry transcends politics.
By midnight, hashtags like #SandersVsNFL, #BadBunnyBowl, and #KeepPoliticsOutOfFootball were trending worldwide.
Fallout Inside the League
The NFL’s front office scrambled to manage the fallout.
League officials released a carefully worded statement defending the choice of Bad Bunny:
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show celebrates music, culture, and unity. Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most influential artists, and we are proud to have him headline.”
Privately, however, insiders admitted the uproar blindsided them.
Sanders’ comments weren’t just from a fringe player – they came from one of the Colorado Buffaloes’ most dynamic stars, a quarterback seen as a rising talent in the sport.
Buffaloes in the Crossfire
The Colorado Buffaloes organization was thrust into crisis mode.
Sanders, their $40 million franchise quarterback, had effectively declared war on the league’s leadership.
Team officials reportedly urged Sanders to clarify his remarks, but the quarterback stood firm, telling one reporter, “I said what I said. Football is about America, not propaganda.”
For the Buffaloes, the situation is delicate.
Alienating their star quarterback risks implosion, but standing against the NFL risks fines, sanctions, and damaged relationships with the league.
The Music World Reacts
Bad Bunny himself has yet to respond directly, but the music industry erupted in solidarity.
Fellow artists, from Cardi B to Maluma, condemned Sanders’ words as an attack not just on Bad Bunny but on the presence of Latin artists in American culture.
One record executive called Sanders’ remarks “a slap in the face to millions of fans who love Bad Bunny’s music, regardless of politics.”
Others, however, admitted Sanders’ comments could fuel even greater interest in the halftime show.
“Like it or not, this controversy just made Super Bowl 2026 even bigger,” one industry insider noted.
Fans Divide Down the Middle
The fan response mirrored America’s broader cultural divides.
Supporters of Sanders: “He’s standing up for tradition. Football should unite Americans, not push an agenda.”
Supporters of Bad Bunny: “This is racism in disguise. Bad Bunny earned this spot, and Sanders is scared of change.”
At bars, online forums, and radio shows, the debate raged. For some, this was about music. For others, it was about culture, politics, and who truly owns the Super Bowl stage.
The Bigger Picture
Sanders’ outburst is more than just a one-day headline.
It’s a snapshot of the NFL’s struggle to balance tradition with globalization, patriotism with diversity, and football with entertainment.
The league wants the halftime show to reflect its growing international influence.
Sanders’ words reflect a fanbase that feels football should remain a uniquely American ritual, free from global pop stars and political undertones.
Caught in the middle are millions of fans who just want to watch the game without controversy – an increasingly impossible ask.
