1. Minkah Fitzpatrick played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft before being traded to the Steelers during the 2019 season.
42 Facts About Minkah Fitzpatrick
1. 2.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was a wide receiver on offense and a defensive back on defense.
3.
Minkah Fitzpatrick placed first at the Hudson County Championships with times of 10.86 seconds and 21.66 seconds in the 100 and 200 meters, respectively.
4.
Minkah Fitzpatrick signed with Alabama at the 2015 National Signing Day, after being verbally committed for almost a year.
5.
Minkah Fitzpatrick recorded 45 total tackles, with three for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and one punt return for a touchdown.
6.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was part of the Alabama team that won the national championship over Clemson.
7.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News after Alabama's championship season.
8.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was named as a consensus All-American for 2016.
9.
Minkah Fitzpatrick won the Chuck Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award.
10.
Minkah Fitzpatrick earned consensus All-American honors for the second consecutive season.
11.
On January 11,2018, Minkah Fitzpatrick announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft.
12.
Minkah Fitzpatrick attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and completed the majority of combine drills, but opted to skip the short shuttle and three-cone drill.
13.
On March 7,2018, Minkah Fitzpatrick participated at Alabama's pro day, but opted to stand on his combine numbers and only performed the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and positional drills.
14.
Minkah Fitzpatrick attended pre-draft visits with the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers.
15.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's versatility allowed him to possibly play safety or cornerback as a professional, but Fitzpatrick expressed his desire to primarily play cornerback to multiple teams.
16.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was expected to be drafted within the top 15 selections.
17.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was ranked as the top cornerback prospect in the draft by DraftScout.
18.
Minkah Fitzpatrick learned both safety positions and primarily ran with the second team.
19.
Minkah Fitzpatrick finished his rookie season in 2018 with 80 combined tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defended, and a touchdown while appearing in all 16 games and starting in 11 of them.
20.
On September 13,2019, it was reported Minkah Fitzpatrick was granted permission to have his agent seek a trade after it was requested.
21.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was unhappy with his role under Brian Flores, as he was playing out of his natural position and played four different roles in the season-opener.
22.
Head coach Mike Tomlin immediately inserted him into the starting lineup with Minkah Fitzpatrick taking over the starting free safety role from Sean Davis.
23.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's pick-six was the third longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history.
24.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's interception happened during a pass attempt by Jared Goff with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, sealing the Steelers' victory.
25.
Minkah Fitzpatrick started in all 14 games during his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had 69 comvined tackles, five interceptions, nine pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns while Minkah Fitzpatrick was ranked 35th by his fellow players in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.
26.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was voted to the 2020 Pro Bowl, marking his first Pro Bowl of his career.
27.
Minkah Fitzpatrick finished the 2020 NFL season with 79 combined tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble.
28.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was ranked 52nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.
29.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was inactive for a Week 11 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers.
30.
Minkah Fitzpatrick ended the 2021 NFL season with a total of 124 combined tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defended, and one forced fumble in 16 games and 16 starts.
31.
On September 11,2022, Minkah Fitzpatrick began the season with his best performance of the year, collecting a season-high 14 combined tackles, made a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass on Joe Burrow's first pass attempt of the game, returning it 31-yards for a touchdown.
32.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's performance earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
33.
On November 12,2022, Minkah Fitzpatrick complained of stomach pain and after consulting a doctor he was diagnosed with appendicitis and immediately underwent surgery.
34.
Minkah Fitzpatrick finished the 2022 NFL season with a total of 96 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, six interceptions, and a touchdown in 15 games and 15 starts.
35.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was named as a first team All-Pro and voted to be a 2023 Pro Bowler.
36.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was named the 2024 Bart Starr Award winner for his contributions on and off the field.
37.
Minkah Fitzpatrick finished with 64 combined tackles and three pass deflections in ten games and ten starts.
38.
Minkah Fitzpatrick finished the 2024 NFL season with a total of 96 combined tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, and a forced fumble while starting all 17 games.
39.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was raised in a Christian household, has often spoken about the importance of his faith, citing Bible verses such as Micah 7:8, which he has said helped guide him through difficult times.
40.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's younger brother, Justice Fitzpatrick, is a high school football player and a top recruit for the class of 2026.
41.
In June 2024, Justice received a scholarship offer from the University of Alabama, where Minkah Fitzpatrick played college football, though he would be playing under a different coaching staff.
42.
On October 7,2024, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Stokes welcomed their first child, a son named Uzai Minkah Fitzpatrick, at the Allegheny Health Network's labor and delivery unit at Wexford Hospital.