Where were you when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick ? Okay, it may not have been thaaat big of a deal, but it was a monumental transaction in the grand scheme of things. Former general manager, Kevin Colbert was the traditional type, and he rarely went out of his way to make big trades or splash signings. He built his teams through the draft, while finding the occasional bargains like James Harrison.
That’s why you knew the trade for Fitzpatrick back in 2019 was such a big deal. Colbert was trading for one of the game’s premier playmakers in the secondary, who wasn’t even fully into his prime yet at.
Additionally, Colbert gave up a ton of draft capital, including a first-round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and two more draft picks. Ben Roethlisberger was already out for the season, but this move was for more than just the 2019 season. It was for beyond that.
That came into full fruition this off-season when now-GM Omar Khan made Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in the NFL with a four-year, $73.6 million deal. He is the team’s best safety since Troy Polamalu and already one of the best defensive backs in team history.
In three seasons, he’s built quite the resume in Pittsburgh. Fitzpatrick has racked up 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns. That has led to two Pro Bowl appearances, as well as making the AP All-Pro First Team twice.
Fitzpatrick’s impact was on full display in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals in an MVP-like performance. He single-handedly led the Steelers to victory, which had to be done after TJ Watt went down with an injury. In addition to his pick-six, Fitzpatrick once again proved himself as a physical presence with 14 total tackles, which did lead to two questionable unnecessary roughness penalties on him. The star safety made up for it by blocking the Bengals’ extra-point attempt that would have ended the game.
It’s rare for defensive backs to be in the discussion for MVP, but like Polamalu, Fitzpatrick is one of those guys that could have that kind of season. Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly of The Athletic mentioned him as an MVP candidate throughout the off-season. Despite just earning a massive deal, Fitzpatrick remained motivated and looked dominant in training camp in Latrobe.
In fact, Fitzpatrick himself admitted to Kaboly that winning the MVP award was his goal. That’s right, he wanted to take the award away from his fellow teammate, TJ Watt, who just won the award in 2021. Whether it was the NFL Top 100 list leaving him out altogether or NFL Madden 23 not including him inside the top-10 safeties, he heard that disrespect loud and clear.
Thank you, Miami Dolphins. You didn’t have to give him to us, but you did. To this day, black and gold fans should be appreciative of that. Fitzpatrick has helped transform Pittsburgh’s secondary, helping generate numerous turnovers. Because of him (and Watt), fans should be confident in the future of this defense.
What is your favorite memory of Fitzpatrick in a Steelers uniform so far? Does he have a legitimate, realistic shot at making a run at MVP this season? Share your memories on this star safety in the comment section below, and on our social media sites!
Should Steelers Be Worried About Long-Term Status Of Najee Harris For Rest Of 2022 Season?
Former Steelers Pro Bowl QB1 Kordell Stewart Thinks Mitch Trubisky Delivered Effective Play And Is “Clearly Still The Starter”
Steelers’ Mitch Trubisky Hungry for More in Week 2: “We’ve got to have that aggressive mentality”
More must-reads: