Newest Steeler once wanted to 'fight' Mike Tomlin

NFL LB Patrick Queen Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

Newest Steeler explains why he once wanted to 'fight' Mike Tomlin

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 3/15/24

The Pittsburgh Steelers made it official on Friday and introduced all-pro linebacker Patrick Queen, signing him to a new three-year contract. Queen said that his motives for signing with the Steelers were centered around playing the role of a villain – which he now is in Baltimore – and for an opportunity to play for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

But it wasn't always hugs and love between Queen and Tomlin.

In fact, Queen used the news conference as an opportunity to look back on a time when he actually wanted to fight his new head coach.

New Steeler LB Patrick Queen, who said said he "wants to be a villain," also laughed said he might've had a "hunch" that he'd be a Steeler one day when Mike Tomlin chirped at him that he wasn't a Raven.

Said in that moment, though, he "wanted to fight him."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 15, 2024

It happened during Queen's rookie season when he ended up on the Steelers sideline. As Queen has told it, Tomlin looked directly at him and started yelling that he was not a real Raven and that he wasn't supposed to be there. In the following matchups over the years Queen referenced that story more than once and how it fueled an even bigger desire to beat the Steelers.

It just never actually happened much, though, as the Steelers won seven of their eight meetings with the Ravens during Queen's Baltimore tenure.

But now Queen does not have to worry about that as he is on the other side of the rivalry and will have an opportunity to play for Tomlin as opposed to against him.

In the end, Tomlin was right. He wasn't supposed to be in Baltimore. Maybe he was always destined to be a Steeler.

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