Category: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick discusses his lack of splash plays

In 2024, Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t produced with splash plays, but his impact remains critical for the Steelers’ strong 7-2 start.

Steelers’ All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been lacking some of his ‘FitzMagic’ to start the 2024 season, but if you ask him, it isn’t due to a lack of effort or execution.

The Pittsburgh Steelers safety has recorded 20 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns since 2019. Fans of the Steel City have been eagerly awaiting the return of Fitzpatrick’s elite playmaking ability to create turnovers and splash plays in 2024, but through nine games, there’s been nothing to show for it in terms of interceptions.

However, he has still displayed elite zone coverage, pass breakups, and run-stopping excellence. It seems Fitzpatrick isn’t overly concerned about the pressure to produce turnovers this season.

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With the Pittsburgh Steelers off to an impressive 7-2 start in 2024, Fitzpatrick’s words ring true. His elite play has deterred quarterbacks from throwing to his side of the field, and he will aim to maintain his dominant coverage heading into the Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick drops to No. 79 on NFL Top 100

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s career has been a rollercoaster since joining the Steelers.

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s career has been a rollercoaster since joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems that every season, Fitzpatrick has an All-Pro season only to follow it up with a down year. After checking in at No. 18 on the 2023 NFL Network Top 100 players list, Fitzpatrick took a big tumble on this year’s version.

On a list voted on by fellow NFL players, Fitzpatrick checked in at No. 79. Keep in mind, Fitzpatrick wasn’t even ranked on the 2022 list before shooting all the way up to No. 18 the following year.

For Fitzpatrick, his ranking is directly related to how the Steelers utilize him on defense.

In years when Fitzpatrick is allowed to play off the ball and make plays in the passing game, he’s able to really showcase his skills and have a real impact on the defense. In other seasons, when you see his production dip, he’s relegated to being a run-stuffer who puts up lots of tackles and nothing else.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick slides in new ESPN rankings

The Steelers are still trying to figure out how to best utilize Minkah Fitzpatrick.

It’s not Minkah Fitzpatrick’s fault that the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coaches don’t know what to do with him. Since trading for Fitzpatrick, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin seems to have alternated seasons where they let Fitzpatrick play his style of football and followed it up with a season where they handcuffed him to be a run stuffer.

This failing by Austin is why when ESPN asked NFL executives, coaches and scouts to rank their Top 10 safeties in the league, Fitzpatrick fell from No. 1 in 2023 to No. 4 in 2024.

One personnel evaluator hit the nail on the head:

He was playing closer to the line of scrimmage this year — not sure why, maybe they needed his leadership and instincts up there, but it hurt his bottom line.

The hope is that with additions the Steelers made on defense, especially linebacker Patrick Queen, Fitzpatrick can go back to what makes him elite. The coaches did acknowledge it this offseason so this should help them focus their defense on the things their best players do well.

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Steelers owe it to Minkah Fitzpatrick to get his game on track

The Steelers have put some excellent pieces in place to help Minkah Fitzpatrick.

If you look at the career of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, it is a series of highs and lows. When Fitzpatrick is able to play his style of football, he’s as good as any defensive back in the NFL. But when he’s forced into playing a box safety, he is all but forgotten by the NFL.

Earlier in the offseason, Fitzpatrick said he just wanted to get back to playing “Minkah Ball” and the Steelers have responded.

The reason Fitzpatrick got forced out of his role as a turnover machine so much over the last three seasons has been a lack of run defense in the front seven. When those guys don’t make plays on early downs, Fitzpatrick is forced into duty and while he answers the call, it is not the best use of his elite skills.

Fitzpatrick had zero interceptions in 2023 after leading the league with six the season before. To help get Fitzpatrick back on track the Steelers signed inside linebacker Patrick Queen to man the middle along with veteran strong safety DeShon Elliott. You add in the healthy return of Elandon Roberts and rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, Fitzpatrick should be able to get back to doing what he does best.

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Browns safety defends Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick over season-ending Nick Chubb injury

Nick Chubb’s teammates have come to the defense of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb is six months removed from a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for the 2023 season and required two surgeries.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was in on the tackle and calls of “dirty player” erupted from media and fans in the days and weeks after.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett defended Fitzpatrick the week following the injury and, most recently, safety D’Anthony Bell did the same.

“I don’t think it was a dirty hit ’cause I don’t think he intentionally tried to do that,” Bell said on the My Dawgs Podcast. “A lot of people like fans; they ain’t never been in the position where you are in full pads trying to tackle Nick Chubb. You ain’t never been in that position, going through the hole, and you see Nick Chubb right in front of you. That’s not an easy thing to execute. I think he was just trying to make a tackle on Chubb and it ended up happening.”

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick given Bart Starr Award for character and leadership

Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the true leaders in the NFL.

No player in the NFL epitomizes professionalism and leadership like Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. This mentality was awarded on Saturday at the annual Super Bowl breakfast when Fitzpatrick was given the Bart Starr Award.

Here is how the award was described by co-chairman of the Breakfast and former NFL head coach Tony Dungy.

“The award is given every year to an NFL player, and that player is selected by his peers, by the rest of the players in the NFL. And it’s not for accolades on the field, it’s the best representation of character and leadership, first in the home, then on the field and in the community.”

Fitzpatrick, forever showing humility was honored to win the award.

‘I’m honored to win this award,” Fitzpatrick said. “It surprised me that I won this award because there was a lot that I learned about myself, that I need to continue to grow, continue to develop.”

During the 2023 season, when things were unraveling on the team, Fitzpatrick was the voice we heard the loudest saying all the right things and doing his best to keep the team focused and on track. Fitzpatrick’s 2023 season not up to his standards due to circumstances out of his control but he is the last player you will ever hear complain.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick says he’ll play if Pittsburgh makes playoffs

The Steelers will have Minkah Fitzpatrick back if they make the playoffs.

It’s going to be a long day as the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans sit around and wait to see their playoff fate. Pittsburgh beat the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday but now have to see how Sunday’s slate of games plays out to know if they will make the playoffs.

If the Steelers do make the playoffs, it’s going to be a mix of good news and bad news about who will be in the game. The Steelers lose outside linebacker T.J. Watt on Saturday and if the reports are true that he suffered a torn MCL, he will not be available no matter how deep the Steelers make it in the playoffs.

But there is a silver lining. After Saturday’s win over the Ravens, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said that if Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, he will be available to return. Fitzpatrick has missed the last three games with a knee injury.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick wins 2024 Bart Starr Award

Minkah Fitzpatrick is a true leader for the Steelers.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had won the 2024 Bart Starr Award for displaying outstanding character, integrity and leadership on and off the field.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Fitzpatrick. “I am grateful for you guys to select me. I appreciate it very much.”

“That my peers selected me means a lot. I say all the time the better man you are, the better ball player you will be. I feel like that’s a phrase not a lot of people really believe in across the league.”

“The fact that people see a good man in me means a lot. I am always trying to be a better man, better brother, better son. The fact that people recognize that is a huge honor.”

Fitzpatrick has quickly developed into the best all-around safety in the NFL. But it has been his leadership that stood out this season when he called out his own team for playing flat and getting beat. This season hasn’t gone according to play for Fitzpatrick thanks to injuries but he remains an integral part of the team.

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Steelers vs. Bengals: Minkah Fitzpatrick ruled out for Week 16

Minkah Fitzpatrick was ruled out for Pittsburgh’s Week 16 matchup with the Bengals.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, who went down with a knee injury in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts, has been ruled out for Saturday’s game.

Tomlin said, via today’s press conference, that he doesn’t know how long Fitzpatrick’s current injury will keep him out.

Fitzpatrick was already dealing with a broken hand and has played just 147 defensive snaps since he returned in Week 12 from four weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The seven-year veteran has had an unusally quiet season with three defended passes and 64 tackles in 10 games.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick questionable to return with knee injury

The Steelers are missing both of their starting safeties against the Colts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is questionable to return after suffering a knee injury in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts.

It wasn’t clear just how Fitzpatrick hurt his knee as he and another Steelers attempted to make a tackle. With Fitzpatrick out, the Steelers are missing both of their starting safeties. Just a few plays before the injury, Damontae Kazee was ejected after a brutal hit on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

The Steelers lead the Colts 13-7 in the final seconds of the first half. No word yet if Fitzpatrick will return in the second half.

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