MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After more than a week of silence following his return to the Miami Dolphins, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick addressed the media Monday with a clear and direct message — he’s back, focused and fully committed.
“Before we start asking questions, I want to make a statement real quick,” Fitzpatrick began, addressing the media for the first time since being traded from Pittsburgh earlier this offseason. “I know I haven’t addressed the media or posted on social media. One, I’m not a big social media guy. You ain’t going to see me on there, period, point blank. Two, in no way, shape or form was that an expression of frustration about coming back to Miami.”
Fitzpatrick, 27, was traded to the Dolphins after a six-year run with the Steelers that included multiple All-Pro selections.
It’s a return to the team that drafted him in 2018 — and a reunion with a franchise that has evolved since his departure.
“I want to thank the city of Pittsburgh, the fans of Pittsburgh. You guys treated me very well. I enjoyed my time there and I played with some great teammates,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was very unfortunate the way things ended, but it’s a part of the business and I’m extremely excited to be a Miami Dolphin again.”
Fitzpatrick emphasized that his lack of public communication wasn’t indicative of any hard feelings toward Miami.
“My silence was not a reflection of how I felt about this team or this organization,” he said. “I’ve been here in the building for about a week now and I’m extremely excited about this season. I think we have a very, very high ceiling.”
The Dolphins are in the midst of a culture shift, and Fitzpatrick has already been identified as a key tone-setter.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and general manager Chris Grier both conveyed expectations beyond just playmaking.
“I think there’s a standard that Mike (McDaniel) and (Chris) Grier are trying to set and I think it’s working hard, being disciplined, being committed to this team, stripping yourself of ego,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s a very ego-driven sport and I think the best teams are the teams that remove the ego, let down the mask and the pride and play winning football.”
The Dolphins’ secondary features several new faces and high expectations. Fitzpatrick pushed back on the notion that defensive backs operate as “independent contractors.”
“No, absolutely not. Definitely not independent contractors,” he said. “I think if you look across the league, the best secondaries are guys who have been working a long time, playing together for a long time, have great chemistry.”
Fitzpatrick’s leadership qualities are already resonating, even as he takes a measured approach early in camp.
“Right now, I’m just trying to make the right calls, be in the right place and get to know my teammates,” he said. “There’s definitely moments where I will have to speak up and communicate, but right now, I don’t want to come in and be overbearing.”
Still, the early impact has been noted — Fitzpatrick recorded the first interception of training camp.
“It was great. I love getting picks. I love that it was the first one. Got to get more,” he said.
The former Alabama standout also spoke about practicing against fellow Crimson Tide alum Tua Tagovailoa, calling the competition “extremely beneficial.”
“Tua (Tagovailoa) is the head guy over there and he’s leading the charge. He had two great balls today and I’m going to go talk to him after this and be like, ‘What’d you see? How’d you know you could get that?’ Just being able to have that exchange is extremely beneficial for me,” he said.
As he looks ahead to the season, Fitzpatrick said he hopes to be in Miami long term.
“Yeah, definitely. Definitely. I’m really liking the energy and the direction that this is going,” he said. “I know it was reported that I wanted a new contract, but I just wanted to know that I was going to be here for more than a season and I got that.”
Now, the focus is on earning trust, wins, and perhaps something that has eluded him so far in his career — postseason success.
“I haven’t won a playoff game, haven’t been to a Super Bowl, haven’t won a conference championship,” Fitzpatrick said. “So there’s a lot for me that I still want to accomplish.”
Asked how the Minkah Fitzpatrick of 2025 differs from the rookie who first walked into the Dolphins’ facility in 2018, he didn’t hesitate.
“I’m definitely a lot more emotionally mature. I think I was very emotionally unintelligent back then ... I learned from my mistakes and I tried to grow in that area.”
Back where it all began — with his family nearby, familiar faces in the building, and a new defense to lead — Fitzpatrick said the feeling is “very nostalgic.”
“It’s been fun. My family is down here, so it’s good to be back close to them.”
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