Minkah Fitzpatrick Returns to Pittsburgh, But He's All Business for Dolphins' Monday Night Matchup
When the Miami Dolphins take the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, it won’t just be another primetime showdown-it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Minkah Fitzpatrick. The veteran safety, now in his second stint with the Dolphins after a trade this past June, is set to face the team where he became a three-time All-Pro and logged nearly 90 games. But if you ask him, it’s just another game.
That’s the public stance, anyway.
Inside the Dolphins’ locker room, there’s a quiet understanding that this one might carry a little extra weight for Fitzpatrick. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, never one to sugarcoat things, made that clear this week.
"I know deep inside, regardless of what he says, it would mean a lot if we could walk off that field with a win," Weaver said. "He’s going to do everything possible within the scheme to protect his teammates and try to get that done. They all count the same-but some mean more."
This isn’t just a narrative for the cameras. Fitzpatrick’s history with the Steelers is real, and so is his impact.
He was a cornerstone of their secondary for five seasons, and ironically, he made his presence felt against Miami in a Monday night game back in 2019-just weeks after the Dolphins traded him to Pittsburgh. That night, he picked off two passes against his former squad.
"Any game where I have two picks is going to put a big smile on my face," Fitzpatrick said after that performance. "It is my former team and former teammates, but I have all the respect in the world for them.
It's an NFL game. If I had the two picks next week or last week, it’s still going to add a big smile on my face."
Fast forward to now, and Fitzpatrick is back in aqua and orange after a June trade that sent Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. While Ramsey has had a rocky adjustment to playing free safety with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick has thrived in Miami’s system, rotating between free safety and slot corner depending on the matchup.
“He’s a stud,” Weaver said. “Quite frankly, I don’t even know where we’d be at this point as a defense without him, just because of some of the injuries we’ve had, particularly in the back end. I love him, and I’m extremely fortunate that we have him.”
That versatility has been crucial for a Miami defense that’s been forced to adapt on the fly. Fitzpatrick’s ability to slide into the slot and still command the back end when needed has made him indispensable. And while he’s not one to talk about himself, his teammates notice.
"Minkah hasn’t mentioned any of that," quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said when asked about the significance of the return to Pittsburgh. "Knowing Minkah from Alabama, I haven’t known him to be a person of, ‘I, I,’ or ‘Me, me.’"
That’s consistent with Fitzpatrick’s approach all year. Even with the Dolphins clawing back from a 1-6 start to potentially reach .500 with a win in Pittsburgh, he’s kept the focus on the team.
"I’m extremely proud of the way this team has stuck together," Fitzpatrick said. "We started off not the way we wanted to, but instead of pointing fingers and separating, we all leaned more into each other. We all took accountability."
It’s that mindset-team-first, all-in-that’s helped Miami stay competitive despite a tough start and a banged-up secondary. And it’s that same mindset that will drive Fitzpatrick on Monday night, even as he lines up across from the team that once made him the centerpiece of their defense.
So, is this game personal? Maybe.
But don’t expect Fitzpatrick to say it out loud. He’ll let his play do the talking.
And if history is any indication, that might be more than enough.