The Pittsburgh Steelers have rewarded Minkah Fitzpatrick with a bumper new deal and have made him the highest-paid NFL safety of all times. Fitzpatrick will earn more than US$18.4 million a year for the duration of his five-year contract. Fitzpatrick also got US$36 million as guaranteed money when he put pen to paper on his new contract.
The Steelers’ safety has now overtaken Jamal Adams (US$17.5 million per year) as the highest-paid NFL safety, a title the Seattle Seahawks star held for only 10 months.
A “Blessing” and Motivation to Continue “Chopping”
Fitzpatrick said that he was very excited and still in shock. He called the new deal a “blessing” and said that the four-year extension was just the beginning. His goal now was to continue “chopping.”
The 25-year-old signed a four-year extension, meaning he is now tied down to a five-year contract. Minkah Fitzpatrick had one more year to run on his previous deal.
The safety’s extension is also the first deal for Omar Khan, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new general manager. Khan said that he was very excited to tie down Minkah to a five-year contract as he was “one of the top safeties in the NFL.”
Khan was happy that they made the right move in trading for him in 2019 and that they always knew that Fitzpatrick would become “an integral part” of their defense. With the safety happy, Khan was now looking to their preparations for the new season.
A Settled Defensive Unit
The Steelers traded for Fitzpatrick in 2019 when they acquired him from the Miami Dolphins for a first-round pick in the NFL draft that year. Since then, Fitzpatrick has totaled 11 interceptions, 3 defensive touchdowns, has forced 3 fumbles, and recovered 4.
With Fitzpatrick’s extension done and dusted, the Steelers now boast a settled defensive unit that ranks as one of the best in the NFL. It includes T.J. Watt, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, and Cameron Heyward.
The Steelers signed T.J. Watt to a four-year extension worth US$112 million last season, whereas Cam Heyward, a 2011 first-round NFL draft pick, signed a four-year US$65.6 million contract in 2020.
That means that the Steelers won’t have to worry about their key defensive players leaving at least until 2024.
Quick Links:
