The Steel Curtain is returning to Pittsburgh. Here’s why Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is exactly what this defense has been missing.
Two weeks into the 2019 season, the Steelers were sitting at 0-2, and their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, had been shelved for the remainder of the season. All seemed lost in Steelers Nation with a trip to San Francisco looming. And then, in one fell swoop, with one franchise player gone for the year, Kevin Colbert brought in another: former Dolphins safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Wherever the ball is, you’ll find number 39 there too. His football IQ is unmatched. Because of his work ethic and ability to make so many game-changing plays, the rest of the defense feels comfortable enough to play aggressive – knowing Minkah is the safety blanket in the back end of the secondary. Fitzpatrick has not only elevated this defense into the return of the Steel Curtain, but he’s also given them an identity, and that’s one of a team who shouldn’t be messed with.
The former 11th overall pick has already become a fan favorite, and most importantly, he’s only in his second season in the NFL. He can (and will) only get better, and even though he has only played seven games in Pittsburgh, he’s already become a player the Steelers need to keep around for his entire career.
Fitzpatrick is taking the ball away at a record pace – intercepting four passes and returning a fumble for a touchdown all throughout the last three games. He is currently on track to finish the season with 80 tackles, 14 pass defenses, 6 combined forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, and an astonishingly high 9 interceptions.
Statistics like these are impossible to prorate, and it’s reasonable to think that Fitzpatrick and the Steelers come back down to earth soon. However, we have seen unparalleled instincts and confidence in the free safety so far, and we have come to expect great things.
Fitzpatrick has recently voted the most valuable safety in the league in a recent poll– over the likes of NFL elites like Derwin James and Jamal Adams. He is on the fast track to earning All-Pro honors this year after posting unparalleled numbers through his first nine games.
In a year without Roethlisberger, it’s looking increasingly more likely that the Steelers very well could make the playoffs. Seven weeks ago, as Fitzpatrick was just arriving in Pittsburgh, that didn’t seem remotely feasible. If this does indeed happen, it will all be due to the game-changer in Minkah Fitzpatrick. He is a cornerstone player who could help revive the Steel Curtain defense.