Minkah Fitzpatrick embracing leadership role with Steelers

Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Entering his third year in Pittsburgh, the former Alabama defensive back is focused on taking on a bigger leadership role in 2021.

“Because I have a lot of experience,” Fitzpatrick said when asked about why it’s important for him to be more vocal. “I think I can impart a lot of my wisdom on younger guys, even older guys. I’m very confident in what I do, very confident in my abilities. I prepare really well. I think I handle myself like a professional. I think guys see that. It’s been demanded from me; a lot of young guys are coming to me and asking me questions and picking my brain. I have a responsibility to talk to them and take them in and take them under my wing.”

Steelers’ defensive coordinator Keith Butler chimed in as well.

“I expect a lot of him; he’s a coach on the dadgum field,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said of Fitzpatrick. “He knows a lot about football.”

Fitzpatrick has often been described as having a quiet personality, but according to Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin, it was the former Alabama star who came to him about taking on a more vocal role with the team.

“He expressed to me he wanted me to be more vocal, not just on the field but in the locker room, in the weight room, and also on the field,” Tomlin said.

Minkah Fitzpatrick has shined in Pittsburgh

Since getting traded to Pittsburgh from the Miami Dolphins, Fitzpatrick has solidified his spot atop the best safeties in the NFL.

His 13 takeaways rank second among all NFL players since he joined the Steelers in 2019.

“You’ve got to speed up to get the ball because there’s probably three or four other people in the area that’s trying to go get it,” Fitzpatrick said. “You know if you get a good break, you just got to go get it. It definitely doesn’t slow down. You definitely have to speed up in your sense of urgency getting to the ball.”

In just two seasons with Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick has started in all 30 games with 79 tackles, nine interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), and two forced fumbles.