Revenge games are the story in Pittsburgh with all of the new faces featured across the roster. The Steelers open the season with two notable revenge games, the first for quarterback Aaron Rodgers against the Jets. The next is against the Seahawks for receiver D.K. Metcalf.
But, because the Steelers didn’t lose much this offseason, there aren’t too many revenge games on the other side. Najee Harris and the Chargers have a date with the Steelers in Week 10, and of course, Kenny Pickett is with the Cleveland Browns, so there are two matchups that he could suit up for against his old team.
Beyond those two instances, there weren’t too many opportunities for old Steelers to get one back on their former employer. But after Monday’s trade, that’s changed.
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved on (now Minkah Fitzpatrick gets to respond)
Pittsburgh moves on without Minkah Fitzpatrick in their defensive backfield, but they haven’t seen the last of their former three-time All-Pro safety. The Steelers host the Dolphins, who acquired their former 2018 first-round selection back from Pittsburgh, in Week 15 on Monday Night Football.
That game is nestled between the Steelers' first meeting with the Baltimore Ravens and a road trip to Detroit to take on the Lions. While Pittsburgh took more from Miami than the inverse, with Fitzpatrick roaming the Miami middle-third, that game did get a bit more challenging.
READ MORE: Steelers insider reveals bold secondary plan after Minkah Fitzpatrick exit
Fitzpatrick hadn’t been as statistically productive in recent seasons, which may have led to his inclusion in the trade that secured two of Pittsburgh’s notable trade targets, tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive back Jalen Ramsey. If he could nab an interception from Rodgers or blow up Jaylen Warren in the open field, that would serve as enough revenge for Fitzpatrick after the Steelers cast him aside to make “all-in, win-now” moves, as they’ve been described.
Surely, once the clock hits double zeros after Miami and Pittsburgh finish their contest, the carry-over leadership in Pittsburgh will give Fitzpatrick some love with jersey-swaps and photo-ops. But during the game, both sides of the trade will look to prove they got the better end of the deal.