Minkah Turns to Micah
The flood and its aftermath didn't bring religion to the Fitzpatricks; the family brought faith to their trials. Minkah's father was raised Muslim but found Christianity and his mother is Catholic. Fitzpatrick has spoken of how important some Bible verses are to him, such as Micah 7:8.
" 'When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me,' " he recited the verse. "There's been times in my life when I had to do that. It speaks to me and applies to me."
The Bama Years
Fitzpatrick took his faith and discipline to Alabama, where he starred for three seasons. In 2015, his 2 interception-return touchdowns led the SEC. In '16 he led the conference with 6 INTs (2 more for scores) and 186 return yards.
In ' 2017, he wrapped up his Crimson Tide career with his ninth INT, his second consensus first-team All-America honors, and the Jim Thorpe (college football's top DB) and Chuck Bednarik (Defensive Player of the Year) awards, at the time enabling him to join Charles Woodson (Michigan, '97) and Patrick Peterson (LSU, '10) as the only players to win the Thorpe and Bednarik awards in the same season.
Tale of the Pro Tape
One thing about Fitzpatrick's stellar pro career, two shorter stints with the Dolphins sandwiched around a five-plus-year stay with the Steelers, is that he's been recognized as one of the NFL's best safeties, being named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro first teams
Another thing that is music to the ears of the Green & White and their fans: He still has his big-play/takeaway touch. His 6 INTs in 2022 led the league., From 2018-25, he's tied for fifth in the league in total takeaways (28) and tied for the second-most defensive return TDs (5).
Through it all, Fitzpatrick has kept his eyes on the prize. "A lot of distractions, a lot of temptations can throw you off your course," he has said. "The path in front is the most important path. Anything that tries to pull you off that path is not necessary."