- Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen has signed with Athletes First for on-field representation, led by agents Ryan Williams and Brian Murphy.
- This is Queen's second agent change of the 2026 offseason, moving from IFA to Athletes First.
- He left the Ballengee Group for IFA back in April, a switch that coincided with trade rumors.
- The move comes as Queen enters the final year of his three-year, $41 million contract with the Steelers.
Patrick Queen, inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has signed with Athletes First for on-field representation. Agents Ryan Williams and Brian Murphy will lead the deal.
This is Queen’s second agent switch this offseason. He left the Ballengee Group for IFA back in April, a move that lined up with trade chatter linking him to the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. That trade never happened, and just months later, Queen has moved to Athletes First.
Queen, a 2020 first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens out of LSU, was named Defensive MVP of the Tigers’ 2019 national championship game. He signed with Pittsburgh in March 2024 on a three-year, $41 million deal and enters the final season of that contract in 2026, with unrestricted free agency awaiting next March.
Off the field, Queen launched an athletic scholarship for student-athletes in his home state of Louisiana earlier this year.
The signing adds Queen to Athletes First’s fast-growing NFL client list. The agency has been especially active lately, landing Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. and Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in July. Just days before the Queen deal, Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love also joined Athletes First for brand partnerships and on/off-field work.
Founded in 2001, Athletes First has built a reputation for closing major contracts, including deals for Dak Prescott and Jordan Love. With Queen heading into a contract year, that track record may be exactly what he’s betting on.
Takeaways
Two agent changes in one offseason is unusual, and it says something: Queen isn’t settling, he’s shopping for the best possible leverage before hitting free agency.
Pairing with an agency that has a track record of landing big second contracts, rather than staying put with a smaller shop, suggests Queen and his camp are playing the long game for 2027.
Does switching agents twice in one offseason signal uncertainty about Queen’s next contract, or just careful positioning? Will Athletes First’s dealmaking reputation translate into a Steelers extension, or a bigger payday elsewhere in free agency?
