Patrick Queen is like many right now, just waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on whether he’ll play in 2026. But unlike some who might be weary of Rodgers’ annual play-or-not-play hesitancy, Queen is willing to tear the process apart if it means there’s a chance to run it again with a future Hall of Fame QB.
“He’s a great guy, he’s a great teammate. I like him personally,” the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker said. Good morning Football on Tuesday. “Is he coming back? I don’t know. That’s something Aaron and the team have to figure out.
“But hell, I’ll take him. Dude’s a great teammate, he’s a great quarterback.”
Could Queen imagine Rodgers not to come back for one more season? The two-time Pro Bowler made no promises but indicated that unfinished business could play a role in Rodgers’ decision.
“I can and I can’t (imagine it), like it’s 50-50,” Queen said. “He’s older, he’s got a lot of experience, 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 on the court. Especially the way 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 everything he does. But would definitely love to have him back.”
Queen offered one encouraging sign, unintentional or not, that suggested the Steelers defense needs to help Rodgers — or whoever the quarterback will be — a little more.
“We all know him, we all love him. He knows how to win. We just have to be better for him, get the ball back to him more often so we can have more opportunities to go down and score,” Queen said.