Insider: Steelers Time With Minkah Fitzpatrick As Centerpiece May Have 'Run It's Course'

The Pittsburgh Steelers made major headlines throughout the NFL on Monday morning. This started when news broke that Pittsburgh was going to be trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. There were several other little intricacies involved in the deal, but the players are the main focus of the trade. Many Steelers fans were surprised by the decision to part ways with a former All-Pro safety, though some are excited about the addition of Ramsey to the defense and the versatility Smith brings to the offense.

The trade follows a disappointing 2024 season where the Steelers struggled to find consistency, especially on defense. Throughout the year, players like Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott made public comments suggesting that certain teammates were not doing their jobs. Although no names were mentioned at the time, the remarks created speculation about potential locker room issues and whether some of the team's top veterans were part of the problem.

On Monday, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo appeared on 93.7 The Fan and said he believes Fitzpatrick was one of the players being called out by his teammates. According to Fittipaldo, there was a growing belief within the organization that Fitzpatrick was not meeting expectations and may have contributed to internal tensions. 

"When DeShon Elliott and Patrick [Queen] were talking about the miscommunication and guys not doing their job... Maybe they were talking about guys like Cam Sutton and others, but if you would watch the tape, you would see what they were talking about after the Chiefs game when Minkah got beat to the flat," said Fittipaldo.

Whether or not that was the primary reason for the trade, the Steelers have clearly chosen to move in a new direction. Fittipaldo conducted his own film study after Queen and Elliott made comments about players not doing their jobs. 

He pointed out that Cam Sutton was certainly one of the players who struggled, but he also revealed that, based on his analysis, he believes Fitzpatrick was another player they were referring to.

"It just seems like if you pay close attention, then there were issues with the communication," Fittipaldo said. "Maybe things had run its course with Minkah being the centerpiece to this football team."

Fittipaldo was asked directly whether he believed Fitzpatrick was the player Queen and Elliott were referring to when they spoke about teammates not doing their jobs. While he chose his words carefully, Fittipaldo admitted that, to a degree, he does believe Fitzpatrick was one of the players being pointed to. 

That response was surprising to many Steelers fans, especially considering Fitzpatrick’s status as a former All-Pro and a respected leader in the secondary.

Steelers Were Ready To Move On From Minkah Fitzpatrick After Struggling In 2024

During the 2024 season, it became increasingly clear that something was not right with Fitzpatrick. He was not playing with the same sharp instincts and playmaking ability that had defined his earlier years in Pittsburgh. There were moments when he appeared out of position or hesitant, which raised concerns among parts of the fan base. 

While some supporters believed the criticism was exaggerated and that Fitzpatrick was still a key part of the defense, others felt that his struggles were contributing to the team’s inconsistency on that side of the ball. The Steelers' defense was the highest paid in the game during that 2024 season. However, in the biggest moments, they didn't play like it.

Now, with the trade complete and insider reports surfacing, it seems the Steelers may have agreed with the latter group. The decision to move on from a player of Fitzpatrick’s caliber suggests that the organization believed a change was necessary. Whether it was due to declining performance, tension in the locker room, or a combination of both, the Steelers appear to have made up their minds that it was time to go in a different direction.

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