Patrick Queen explains why Pittsburgh is 'a better atmosphere' for him

Linebacker Patrick Queen switched sides in one of the NFL's best rivalries this offseason, signing with the Steelers after playing the first four years of his career with the Ravens.

Whether Queen truly believes what he said or if he's just playing to his audience is up for debate, but he recently revealed why he thinks Pittsburgh is a better place for him than Baltimore. 

"It's a better atmosphere here for me," Queen said, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. "Everybody is cool, the people are cool, the players are cool and the food spots are better. I am a big food guy. I love food. I am more of a true food guy rather than a seafood guy. I like meat and stuff like that. It's just a better atmosphere for me here."

Of course, the Ravens don't have much control over the city's food options, but they let it be known how much they valued him over the past two years.

In 2022, Baltimore traded for linebacker Roquan Smith and signed him to a five-year, $100M extension. Then, the team drafted linebacker Trenton Simpson, who will likely take Queen's place this season, in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

During that same span, Queen registered 250 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 defensed passes.

So the Steelers put their confidence in him by making him their highest-paid free-agent signing in franchise history (three-years, $41M). However, Queen said he doesn't have any bad blood towards his former team.

"I don't care … it's the truth," Queen stated. "I am not saying anything bad about them. I am just speaking the truth."

Queen is the latest standout to join Pittsburgh's star-studded defense, and he knows that his new team has a chance to do something special in 2024.

"It is everything that you want," Queen added. "You have a great head coach, a defense that can ball and puts you into a situation to succeed. I am at a point where I want to win. I know Pittsburgh hasn't won anything in a while, but they were in the playoffs, so they have a chance. To me, the team got better at every position. It's just now at the point where we have to go do it."

Only time will tell for sure, but Queen seems more than happy with how everything has played out in the Steel City thus far.