Born to Dwayne and Mary Sue Queen, Queen grew up in Ventress, Louisiana, as the youngest (and only son) out of four children.[1][2]
He played football in middle school at False River Academy before moving on to high school. He later attended Livonia High School, where he played on the football team as both a linebacker and running back.[3] Queen was a member of Livonia High School's 2014 state championship football team.[4] As a senior in 2016, he rushed for 1,487 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense and had 66 tackles, seven tackles for losses, and six passes broken up on defense.[5] Queen participated in the 2014 National Combine, and received first team honors as a cornerback.[6]
Despite his four-star prospect rating, Queen had relatively few offers from Power Five conference schools, particularly the Southeastern Conference, where he had long been interested in playing.[1] Queen's early offers came from smaller schools Tulane, Louisiana, Louisiana–Monroe, Colorado State, McNeese State, Louisiana Tech, and South Florida before receiving offers from Nebraska, Indiana, and his preferred destination of LSU, where he committed without any additional school visits on February 28, 2016.[1][7] Queen became the first player from Livonia to receive a scholarship from LSU.[1] Queen's recruiting profile was complex, as each major sports recruiting website listed him at a different position. 247Sports, which listed him as a versatile athlete,[note 1] ranked him as the 17th best ATH in the country, and the 12th best player from Louisiana.[8] Rivals, which listed him as an outside linebacker, ranked him as the 13th best OLB in his class and 8th best recruit from Louisiana.[7] ESPN.com, which listed him as a running back, ranked him the 30th best RB in the country and the 14th best recruit from Louisiana.
Queen at the post-game presser for the 2020 National Championship game.
Queen made six tackles in 12 games played as a true freshman.[9] He finished his sophomore season with 40 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and a sack.[10] Queen entered his junior year on the watchlist for the Butkus Award.[11] Queen finished the regular season with 69 tackles (eight for a loss), 2.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery.[12] Queen was named the Defensive MVP of the 2020 National Championship Game after making eight tackles with 2.5 for a loss and a combined sack against Clemson.[13] Following the end of the season Queen announced that he would forgo his senior season to enter the 2020 NFL draft.[14]
Queen was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[17] He is the first LSU player the Ravens have ever drafted.[18] Queen made his professional debut in a 38–6 win against the Cleveland Browns recording a team high eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.[19]
In Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Queen led the team with nine tackles, recorded a strip sack on former LSU teammate Joe Burrow that he also recovered, and recovered a fumble lost by Mike Thomas which he returned for a 53-yard touchdown during the 27–3 win.[20] On October 14, 2020, Queen was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 5.[21] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 3, 2020,[22] and activated four days later.[23] In Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys, Queen recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Andy Dalton during the 34–17 win.[24] He finished his rookie season starting all 16 games. He recorded 106 total tackles (66 solo), one interception, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[25] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[26]
2021
In 2021, Queen changed his jersey number from #48 to #6 following the relaxation of the NFL's jersey number rules.[27] In the 2021 season, he started in all 17 games. He finished with two sacks, 98 total tackles (68 solo), one pass defended, and one forced fumble.[28]
2022
In the 2022 season, he started in all 17 games. He recorded five sacks, 117 total tackles (79 solo), two interceptions, six passes defended, and one forced fumble.[29]
2023
Queen had his fifth-year option declined before the season.[30] He would nevertheless set a career-high with 133 total tackles (84 solo) and tied his career-high in pass-breakups.[31] He was named to his first Pro Bowl prior to Week 18.[32]
Pittsburgh Steelers
On March 15, 2024, Queen signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth $41 million.[33][34]
Despite a slow start to the season, Queen broke out as a Steeler during the team's 32–13 win over the Raiders when he recorded 13 tackles (six solo, seven assisted), and contributed for 0.5 stuffs.[35] In Week 11, Queen faced off against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, for the first time since signing with the Steelers.[36] He recorded 10 total tackles, one stuff, and forced a fumble on tight end Isaiah Likely and recovered it for Pittsburgh, to set up a field goal.[37] During a 24–19 loss to divisional opponents Cleveland Browns, Queen was the team's leading tackler. He recorded seven total tackles (two solo and five assisted).[38][39]
^Abbreviated as ATH, this is a recruiting designation used when a player is likely to be recruited at a different position than the one they played in high school.
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