NFL Announces Double Punishment for Dolphins' Minkah Fitzpatrick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Nov 22, 2025 5:53 PM ET

Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has had an outstanding tenure in the NFL so far. Now in his eighth season in the league, the former 11th overall pick has played in 117 games, totaling 673 tackles, 60 pass breakups and 21 interceptions, four of which he has returned for touchdowns.

Because of his incredible statistics, Fitzpatrick has five Pro Bowl appearances and three First Team All-Pro selections between his years with the Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.

After the Dolphins drafted him in 2018, Fitzpatrick was traded to the Steelers the following year. Then, this past offseason, Pittsburgh dealt him back to Miami, as he is in his first season back with the Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) and Buffalo Bills tight end Jackson Hawes (85) jump for a pass.© Jeff Romance-Imagn Images

So far in the 2025 season, Fitzpatrick has started all 11 games for the Dolphins, amassing 65 total tackles, six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

On Sunday against the Washington Commanders, Fitzpatrick was involved in a pair of incidents that drew action from the league.

He was penalized for a low block in the first quarter, which gave the Commanders 15 yards. In the second quarter, he made a tackle on Chris Rodriguez Jr., which didn't draw a flag at the time, but was later ruled as an illegal hip-drop tackle by the NFL.

The league announced its fines for Week 11 on Saturday, as Fitzpatrick was docked $12,172 for the low block and $17,389 for the hip-drop tackle, according to the NFL's website.

These were Fitzpatrick's first two fines of the season after he had been punished on seven separate occasions throughout his career leading up to 2025.

He and the Dolphins have a bye this week but will be back in action on Nov. 30 against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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