Minkah Fitzpatrick Steelers
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Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass from Tyler Huntley of the Baltimore Ravens on January 1, 2023.
It is now official. Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is now a member of the New York Jets. After being traded from Pittsburgh back to the Miami Dolphins before the start of last season as part of the deal that helped the Steelers acquire Pro Bowl defensive back Jalen Ramsey, the former first-round pick is now joining a new AFC East team.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, not only are the Jets trading a seventh-round pick to Miami, but they are signing Fitzpatrick to a three-year, $40 million extension. Now 29 years of age, he will look to help turn the ship around in the Big Apple.
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers
Minkah Fitzpatrick
GettyMinkah Fitzpatrick was named to five Pro Bowls in Pittsburgh.
A cornerstone piece of former head coach Mike Tomlin‘s defense for parts of six seasons (2019-2024), Fitzpatrick was one of the best safeties in the NFL. The three-time First-Team All-Pro was as stable a defensive back as you could find. In his Steelers career, he recorded 18 interceptions, 45 pass deflections, and 516 total tackles.
Much like veteran Steelers defenders such as T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward, Fitzpatrick was a staple of the team for years. He was somebody that could be counted on for much of his time in the Steel City. While the Steelers weren’t able to make any deep playoff runs with him in the fold, he gave them a really decent chance with his elite play.
Last year before the start of the 2025 season, in the trade that sent him back to the Dolphins, who drafted him out of Alabama in 2018, the Steelers received the aforementioned Jalen Ramsey, veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Pittsburgh also gave away a 2027 fifth-round pick in the process. Ramsey ended up switching from cornerback to safety part-way through the 2025 season.
The Jets Need Elite Football From Minkah Fitzpatrick
Pittsburgh Steelers
GettyMinkah Fitzpatrick was the league’s co-leader in interceptions in 2022 (6).
A New Jersey native, Fitzpatrick is heading fairly close to home as he will suit up for the Jets in 2026. Now, it is no secret that the Jets have struggled to remain consistent for a long, long time. This organization has been looking for stability and consistency on both sides of the football. A veteran, star-studded player such as Fitzpatrick could greatly help out struggling head coach Aaron Glenn.
What was the 25th-ranked total defense in the league last season, the Jets have nowhere to go but up. Coming off his best career season in terms of tackles for loss (4) and quarterback hits (2), the versatile two-time national champion in Fitzpatrick will look to help put the Jets back on the map in 2026 and beyond.
If New York can get the Pittsburgh version of him, the defense could be in a good position to succeed. He will help lead a defensive back room that will look to shutdown opposing wide receivers. If he can do that, it will allow for the Jets pass-rush to get after opposing quarterbacks week in and week out.