Linebacker Patrick Queen got involved in working with the military for one reason.
Respect.
Queen isn't someone who has a long line of family members who served in the Armed Forces, although he has friends who have, but he understands and appreciates the work everyone who has or is currently serving our country has done.
If there is one thing he has, it's respect for all of them.
"All the stuff they went through in the past, and then them coming back home and the stuff they go through," shared Queen. "I feel like we don't take care of them enough.
"I feel like there are way more opportunities out there for us to be able to help them out when they come back, having places for them and better ways to help them transition away from that type of life that they had to live.
"And just to say thank you. So, my little appreciation with the cleats, there is way more we can do, but it's just a little token of appreciation."
Queen is the Steelers nominee for the 2025 Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA annually to either a player, coach, alumni or staff member of an NFL team for embracing the pillars of the award, to honor, embrace and connect with service members.
Queen has and continues to do his part to help.
Since signing with the Steelers in 2024, Queen has been a big part of the team's military outreach efforts.
He has partnered with the Veterans Leadership Program (VLP), an organization whose mission is to provide military members with much needed assistance, by focusing on housing and career development to wellness and supportive services. Queen supported 100 veterans by providing them with hygiene kits, providing basic necessities they sometimes go without. He also spent time with the group, serving them breakfast so he could personally thank them and get to know them. It's a relationship that he is continuing to grow and build this season.
This year he is teaming up with Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, , whose mission is to empower veterans' transition from homeless to home, ending the cycle of homelessness, and to assist all at-risk veterans to become engaged, valuable citizens who contribute to their communities. In November, he will support 100 veterans by providing them with hygiene kits, a basic necessity they sometimes go without. He will also spend time with the group, serving them breakfast so that he can personally thank them and get to know them.
For the second straight year, Queen will support veterans' programs through the My Cause My Cleats program in 2025. This year he will be supporting Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard.
In 2024, Queen supported Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) with his cleats, and auction them off to raise money for the organization to support the families of fallen heroes.
"This is the best country in the world," said Queen. "The freedom that we have, all of the stuff that we get to do that not most countries get to do and stuff. What I do is just a little token of appreciation."
Fans have an opportunity to vote and help determine the award's three finalists. To cast your vote for Patrick Queen, visit NFL.com/SaluteFanVote. From now until November 30, fans can submit one vote per day. Finalists of the award will be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally in February during the week of the Super Bowl.
For the past 15 seasons, the Salute to Service Award has been an integral part of the NFL's and USAA's year-round commitment to recognize the military and veteran community. As the presenting sponsor of the award, USAA, a leading provider of insurance, banking and financial services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in the recipient's name to official aid societies representing all U.S. military branches. The NFL Foundation will match USAA's contribution by donating an additional $25,000 to the awardee's military non-profit charity of choice.
Through the league's Salute to Service initiative, the NFL and all teams from across the league unite to honor, empower and connect with service members, veterans and their families during Weeks 9-11 of the regular season. The initiative will come to life in NFL stadiums across the country through on-field branding and other game day activations. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Salute to Service game is slated for November 16, when we take on the Cincinnati Bengals. Visit NFL.com/Salute to learn more.
