Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade Might Have Signaled Hidden Rift

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s exit from the Pittsburgh Steelers may have come with more controversy than the headlines let on.

When Pittsburgh pulled off the high-profile deal with the Miami Dolphins last month, landing Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith in exchange for Fitzpatrick and a future draft pick, most of the attention zeroed in on Ramsey’s departure from South Florida.

But the more intriguing side of the trade may be what it says about the Steelers’ willingness to move on from their three-time First-Team All-Pro safety.

The swap certainly raised some eyebrows around the league. Fitzpatrick’s production dipped in 2024 — he had just one interception and four pass breakups to accompany 96 total tackles — but few expected Pittsburgh to deal him. He had long been considered a cornerstone of the defense, even if his All-Pro form had begun to fade.

Now, reports suggest there may have been tension brewing behind the scenes.

“Something weird was going on,” said Mike Florio, as transcribed by Mike Nicastro of Behind the Steel Curtain. He continued, “I’m waiting for the reports to come out … it just feels like they were lying in the weeds waiting to make this move.”

The sense of purposeful timing around trades has become something of a hallmark for Mike Tomlin, who has built a reputation for keeping locker room issues in-house. Florio pointed to that track record, suggesting the team may have quietly managed a rift with the player until the right moment came to part ways.

This was not a situation like past Steelers exits involving Diontae Johnson or George Pickens, who were openly scrutinized for behavior concerns. The fact that Fitzpatrick’s exit was sudden, without warning or public controversy, might speak volumes.

Whether he or Steelers brass will offer any clarity this summer remains to be seen.

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