NFL fans quickly took to Twitter to blame Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for the knee injury to Browns’ Nick Chubb.
When a player suffers an injury, specifically a devastating, potentially career-ending one, fans look for someone to blame. During the Monday Night Football battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, it was Minkah Fitzpatrick.
On a handoff from Deshaun Watson, Chubb drove up the middle and was hit directly on the knee by Fitzpatrick. Audible gasps fell over the crowd at Acrisure Stadium, indicating the replay was shown on the Jumbotron. Steelers fans chanted “Chubb” and gave him a standing ovation as he was carted off the field.
But NFL fans, particularly of the Browns persuasion, weren’t so classy when it came to the Steelers’ involvement.
Minkah Fitzpatrick decided to protect the Steelers logo in the locker room.
Sometimes there are guys who are just meant to be Pittsburgh Steelers. Even though safety Minkah Fitzpatrick wasn’t drafted by Pittsburgh, from the moment the Steelers traded for him, it seemed like he bled black and gold.
This latest gesture by Fitzpatrick is just the most recent example of how important this team is to him and his desire to uphold the standards and traditions that have been around for so long.
Fitzpatrick didn’t like the fact that the Steelers logo in the middle of the locker room floor was being walked on and wasn’t kept pristine. So he took it upon himself to cordon it off to keep it clean. This is per ESPN Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor. You can read the full conversation in the link below.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was tired of seeing the footprints on the Steelers’ locker room logo, so he did something about it.
Without fanfare, he added stanchions to rope it off.
Upon arriving in Pittsburgh in 2019, Fitzpatrick established himself as the best all-around safety in the NFL. His play on the field speaks for itself and his maturity and leadership on the field is just as important for this young and talented team.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the top safety on NFL Network’s Top 100 players.
The NFL Network put out its Top 100 players in the league as voted on by players. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed three with defensive tackle Cam Heyward at No. 45, EDGE T.J. Watt at No. 27 and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was best at No. 18.
We felt like all three guys were ranked too low but at least they have Fitzpatrick as the top safety in the NFL. But who was ranked ahead of him? Lots of huge names like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts but here are four players with no business being ranked higher than Fitzpatrick.
This offseason, most media outlets put together their rankings of the top NFL players. And this offseason has been a big one for Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. After being a forgotten man in 2021 thanks to the struggles on the Pittsburgh defense, Fitzpatrick returned to form in 2022 and led the NFL in interceptions.
This bounceback has put Fitzpatrick at the top of most lists of the top safeties including this one by ESPN. Voted on by NFL execs, coaches and staff, Fitzpatrick was the consensus top safety in the league.
“Best in the game, and it’s not close,” an NFL personnel director said. “You have to keep him moving because if he’s stationary, coordinators can plan for him, but every single play, there’s that feeling of, where is he going to be? Post, slot, nickel, box. He’s capable, willing and able to handle all of that. He’s brilliant, works, studies, loves the game.”
There are really two big takeaways from this. First, the fact that someone in this poll had Fitzpatrick as the fifth-best safety in the NFL. That is objectively ridiculous and makes no sense. And two that Fitzpatrick took such a tumble after the 2021 season when all he did was finish with two interceptions, seven passes defended and lead the team with 124 tackles.
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One year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a blockbuster trade that brought their defense back to life.
The Steelers defense played terribly in early 2019. They allowed 640 passing yards and surrendered 61 points to the opposition in the first two weeks. While Devin Bush and Mark Barron recovered two fumbles, the turnover ratio was nothing compared to what was coming.
Enter: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
One year ago, in an un-Steeler like move, Pittsburgh made a bold statement in the form of a trade with the Miami Dolphins. They sent a 2020 first and fifth-round to Miami in exchange for Fitzpatrick and a fourth-rounder (guard Kevin Dotson).
As a result of the blockbuster trade, the Steelers still have a sixth-rounder in 2021, and the Dolphins a seventh.
TRADE: Steelers are trading a 2020 first-round pick to the Dolphins for DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, league sources tell ESPN.
Early on, there were questions about whether Pittsburgh gave up too much. They were 0-2 when they acquired Fitzpatrick and didn’t get their first win until Week 4. Initially, it appeared the Steelers might be parting with a high first-round draft pick. As it turned out at the season’s end, it was No. 18.
In hindsight, Pittsburgh easily won that trade — especially considering all the big names traded for first-rounders this summer.
Upon Fitzpatrick’s arrival, the defense came to life. Despite having just landed in Pittsburgh days earlier, he made immediate contributions in the Steelers Week 3 matchup versus the undefeated San Fransisco 49ers. Minkah picked off Jimmy Garoppolo, forced a fumble, and notched four tackles.
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
The week after he twice intercepted his former team, Fitzpatrick took an interception 96 yards for the second-longest pick-six in franchise history.
By the end of the season, Fitzpatrick ranked fourth in the league with five interceptions (two for touchdowns) and third with 130 interception return yards. Four of those interceptions came at Heinz Field. He logged 43 tackles and two forced fumbles. Of Minkah’s three fumble recoveries, two were taken a total of 79 yards, and one went for a score.
The All-Pro joined T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward as Steelers defensive reps in the 2020 Pro Bowl.
While we await Fitz’s 2020 highlight reel, here are his 2019 highlights compiled by the Steelers for your viewing pleasure.
