Pittsburgh Steelers superstar safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick has been a fixture in the secondary for the last five seasons. He has been one of the best safeties in the league in that timespan, having made four Pro Bowls while being named a First Team All-Pro three times. He has had a ton of success in Pittsburgh, that some might have forgotten how he started his career with the Miami Dolphins before being traded to Pittsburgh in the middle of the 2019 NFL season.
Steelers' Fitzpatrick Explains Why Pittsburgh Was The Perfect Fit For Him
Fitzpatrick was drafted by the Dolphins with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and was traded to the Steelers after playing just two games in his second season in Miami. It was reported that Fitzpatrick was unhappy with the way he was being used in the Dolphins defense, which hurt his relationship with the organization. Fitzpatrick wanted a fresh start, and he got one in Pittsburgh, which he reflected on and explained why it was a perfect fit in an interview with CBN News.
"Pittsburgh itself is a blue-collar, hard-working, family oriented city. The Steelers reflect that as well in the way that we play and the way that the organization is run. That's how I am as a man and as a player. I come from a blue-collar family, family-centered, Pittsburgh was a perfect fit. God definitely made it happen for a reason."
The Steelers gave up a good amount of draft compensation in order to acquire Fitzpatrick during the 2019 season. The organization gave Miami their first round pick in 2020, a fifth round pick in 2020, and a sixth round pick in 2021. In return, Pittsburgh received Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth round pick, and a 2021 seventh round pick. The trade has obviously worked out for Pittsburgh, as they gave Fitzpatrick a four-year $73.6 million contract extension before the 2022 season.
Fitzpatrick has never been voted a team captain by his peers, but he is certainly one of the Steelers' most important leaders. He is extremely versatile on the field, and when he is healthy, he is one of the best defensive players in the league. He was tied for the most interceptions in the NFL during the 2022 season. Since coming to Pittsburgh, he has scored four times on the defensive side of the ball, including twice in his first season with the team.
In 2023, Fitzpatrick had a down year, mostly due to him struggling to stay healthy. He only played in 10 games throughout the season, due to a combination of knee and hamstring injuries. 2023 was his first season in the NFL without recording an interception, and he had the lowest tackle total of his career. In the 2024 offseason, Fitzpatrick will be focusing on getting back to full health, while preparing for the 2024 season.
Most recently, Fitzpatrick won the Athletes In Action/Bart Starr Award, which is awarded to an NFL player who exemplifies being a great leader on the field, in the community, and at home. The award was first introduced in 1989 and Fitzpatrick is the first Steelers player to win it. Fitzpatrick receiving this award shows how large of an impact he has made on this Steelers team and in the Pittsburgh community since being traded in 2019.
Fitzpatrick is under contract with the Steelers through the 2026 NFL season, and by the way he talks about Pittsburgh and the Steelers organization, he seems to want to be here for the rest of his career. As he said himself, Fitzpatrick and Pittsburgh was a perfect fit, and it certainly has worked out for both sides thus far. Fitzpatrick loves being in Pittsburgh, and he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
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