Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick: Playoff loss to Chiefs an 'embarrassment'

The last time the football world saw the Pittsburgh Steelers in action, they were blown out to the tune of 42-21 in a playoff game at the Kansas City Chiefs that proved to be the final contest of the Hall of Fame career of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. 

By most accounts, the Steelers are on track to have signal-caller Mitchell Trubisky atop the depth chart over career backup Mason Rudolph and first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh also rewarded one of its own on Wednesday by making All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in the NFL. 

Fitzpatrick signed a four-year extension and is set to earn over $18.4 million per season on his new deal, but he let it be known Thursday the team's last defeat still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk and Kevin Patra of the NFL's website, Fitzpatrick referred to the playoff loss in Kansas City as an "embarrassment" for the storied franchise. 

"This program is a winning program," Fitzpatrick explained. "I’m very excited — very excited — about this upcoming season." 

The 25-year-old traded to the Steelers in 2019 also spoke about his need to put pen to paper on an agreement before training camp next month. 

"It was important. I wanted to be out there with my teammates, practicing and competing," Fitzpatrick said. "The thing I appreciate the most about this organization is its commitment to winning. The season I came here, they lost their Hall of Fame QB. They could've tanked. But they went out, got me, and added some other guys. It was a season about winning."