It's been three years since the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick. He was an All-Pro in 2019 and 2020. The defense as a whole slipped in 2021 and Fitzpatrick found himself making 124 tackles last season, many as a last line of defense after long runs. He rarely got to play center field and he did not make the Pro Bowl or the All-Pro team last year.
Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
During the off-season, Fitzpatrick signed a new contract with the Steelers and until Derwin James signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, he was the highest paid safety in the NFL. The former first round pick from the University of Alabama has been hard at work ever since trying to improve his play and return to an All-Pro level. When he was cleared to start playing at training camp, Fitzpatrick insisted on reps against the best competition available in Latrobe, PA:
"I was doing a lot of one-on-ones with the top receivers," said Fitzpatrick. "I lost my first two reps and I wanted to keep going because even if I lose a rep, I can learn from that rep. Obviously I am mad that I lost the rep, but at the same time, the more times I go against Diontae [Johnson], George [Pickens], and Chase [Claypool], it's the more I get to watch myself go against these top receivers and break it down and say, 'I can be more patient, I can be more physical.' It's better to get those extra reps than it is to hide in the back and not step outside that comfort zone."
The Steelers missed the playoffs the first year that Fitzpatrick was in black and gold. He played like a man possessed for the 2019 team and they nearly made the playoffs despite the lackluster offense, minus Ben Roethlisberger. He has gotten off to a hot start in 2022 and it may be the memories of that season that are prodding him to elevate his performance:
"I don't just like winning. I like dominating," he said emphatically. "I like when things go how I picture them in my head. Not in a weird way, but more like, I did this and can expect this kind of result. Not a perfectionist in a sense where I freak out if things are not the way I want them. I just adapt and try to get back to the way they should be."
Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) tackles Nick Chubb. | Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers knew that 2022 would be a struggle on offense, but were counting on an elite defense to ease the transition from the Hall of Fame quarterback they lost. They could not have foreseen the unfortunate loss of T.J. Watt and the offense being quite this bad. But it will take more than All-Pro level play from Fitzpatrick to right the ship this season:
"A good leader knows when he has to be direct or blunt with somebody,” Fitzpatrick said. “A good leader also knows when he has to be uplifting and energetic and people need to feed off him. There are days when I am a little bit of a jerk, but that is what that person needed, or I needed that day. There are days when I am more lighthearted, loud mouthed and joking and trying to pull people along. I feel like my father exemplified that 100 percent and I am that."
Cam Heyward is beginning to show his age and Watt is sidelined for the foreseeable future. The most decorated member of the defense, Fitzpatrick is going to be counted on going forward to be the glue of the defense.
Fitzpatrick is a special player, but he has struggled in his career. When he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, they expected him to play cornerback and safety, despite his objections. He was certainly not a bust in Miami, but they were perfectly happy to dump a second-year secondary talent in the pursuit of quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) intercepts ball against New England Patriots. | Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Fitzpatrick has worked to be great and that is the kind of leadership that a young team that wants to contend for championships needs. Watt will be great whenever he is on the field, he is a generational player. You cannot fill up a team with those kinds of players, because they are hard to find. A leader like Fitzpatrick who knows how hard you have to work to be great can inspire others to raise the level of play across the board and that is the difference between having a good team and a great one.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Fitzpatrick the future leader of the black and gold’s defense? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
