Heyward, entering his 14th NFL season, is hungry to bring more success to Pittsburgh than they have experienced during his time with the Steelers. The 2023 Walter Peyton Man of the Year was on The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday and talked about the impact Queen is going to make on Pittsburgh's defense. Queen's violent style and ability have Heyward eager to see how much the team can accomplish going forward.
"I think it's funny. I think I read on Twitter [X], you know, he views himself as a villain now. I'm like, 'Nah, bro, you're just a hero now. You've been a villain all this time; you just became a hero.' You know, I'm excited. I think, you look at his game, man, he comes downhill... I think having a guy like that who can play the run, play the pass. He's a three-down linebacker who allows the team to be more flexible and more versatile in our approach, and, man, I just love the way he just -- he's gonna meet dudes in the hole, and, you know, we got some great running backs in our division; you got Nick Chubb, you got Derrick Henry now, so we gotta have a linebacker who is willing to stick his face in the fan if you know what I mean."
Queen signed a three-year, $41-million deal with the Steelers early in the 2024 offseason, filling a hole they absolutely had to address. When Pittsburgh brought in Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts ahead of the 2023 season, they did so believing it would be a stable group for the future. However, injuries derailed those hopes with Holcomb going down with a season-ending injury, and Roberts battling injuries throughout the year.
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, Queen should be a factor in the success that the Steelers are aiming for. Despite being destroyed by injuries across the defense, Matt Canada running the offense for most of the year, and a lack of offensive identity, the Steelers were in a Wild Card game. Granted, that playoff appearance was another postseason loss that falls short of the bar in Pittsburgh, but if that squad can achieve mild success, 2024 should be a big step forward for the entire team.
Steelers Want A Jerome Bettis Ending For Heyward
When the Steelers won Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks, it was the culmination of one of the most unexpected playoff runs in NFL history. What stood out among all the confetti and celebration was that Jerome Bettis had finished his career in a way few others get to do: with a Super Bowl ring. Bettis was a bruising back for the Steelers' rushing attack, allowing Bill Cowher to shut down opponents in the second half with a physical, deceptively fast running back. Getting Bettis that championship was a season-long catalyst that inspired the team to victory.
Heyward hasn't even gotten the chance to play for a Super Bowl since being drafted by the Steelers in the 2011 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV the season prior to Heyward arriving, and they haven't returned since. It would be an amazing end to a great career if the Steelers were able to at least give Heyward the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl. Queen's arrival in Pittsburgh should help those chances.
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