It's official! The Pittsburgh Steelers were finally able to ink their star safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, to a new five-year contract! As reported, this now makes him the highest paid safety in the history of the NFL! Details below:
We have signed S Minkah Fitzpatrick to a new five-year contract. @BordasLaw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 15, 2022
Via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, Fitzpatrick expressed his raw emotions as soon as he signed the new deal on Wednesday:
"I am very excited," said Fitzpatrick minutes after signing the contract. "I am still kind of in shock right now. It's a blessing. I am really excited. It's just the beginning. I am appreciative. I am thankful. Now I just want to keep on chopping."
"I love the history here. What it stands for. The standard we are held to. The standard Coach [Mike] Tomlin holds us to, on the field and off the field. The standard of winning playoff games, division titles and championship games."
"I really like it here. I have been playing well the last three seasons, at a high level. I love the atmosphere, the coaching, the tradition. Being able to continue that for the next few years is definitely a blessing."
Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Steeler Nation should be BEYOND thrilled to hear this news, as not only does this lockdown an All-Pro caliber player for the Steel City for the next several seasons, it comes at a time before the safety market (albeit already high) really starts to get pricey. Before Wednesday, the highest paid safety in the league was Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks. He's making $17.5M per year. Fitzpatrick's deal is sure to set a new precedent.
Fellow safety and division foe, Jessie Bates III of the Cincinnati Bengals is also seeking a contract extension. At this point, there's no doubt he'll now be asking for $19M+ per year now that the Fitzpatrick deal has transpired. Could this have been a strategic signing by new Steelers general manager, Omar Khan?
Khan also weighed in on the Fitzpatrick signing via Varley and Steelers.com:
"We are very excited to sign Minkah to a new five-year contract," said Steelers General Manager Omar Khan. "Minkah is one of the top safeties in the NFL and we are thrilled he will be in Pittsburgh through at least the next five years. When we traded for him, we knew he was going to be an integral part of our defense and we look forward to that continuing as we prepare for the upcoming season."
Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fitzpatrick, 25, is already a 2x First Team All-Pro and 2x Pro Bowler since joining the league in 2018 out of Alabama. He led the Steelers in tackles last season with 124, and he most certainly will be a cornerstone of this new age Steel Curtain for years to come.
What do yinz think of Fitzpatrick's comments and his new deal!? Was this a strategic move by Khan? Click to comment below!
#SteelerNation
