Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen was fined $17,358 for a hit the NFL deemed ‘unnecessary roughness’ against Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
Queen will appeal the fine, according to Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports. The appeals process often takes weeks, so Queen will have to wait a bit until he finds out if he will win his appeal.
The hit came on the 21-yard touchdown by Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton. It was not called a flag on the field, meaning the NFL viewed it after the game.
Queen is likely getting fined for hitting Darnold high, and hits to the head have become heavily enforced by the NFL over the last few seasons, with hefty fines on defenders and even offensive players for utilizing their helmet or hitting players in the head.
Queen is a two-time Pro Bowler and the green dot of the Steelers’ defense. He made the Pro Bowl after joining the Steelers last year, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 during his last season wit the Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers signed Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract that will keep him with the team through the 2026 season. With money already sunken into the position with Roquan Smith, the Baltimore Ravens had to let Queen walk. Queen was notably upset the Ravens never offered him a deal to even think about returning.