The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a very eventful offseason, and it’s gotten a lot of buzz in the Steel City. Of course, the most recent trade has started a ton of dialogue, and that’s what has shaken the NFL. The Steelers traded All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. While the return was undeniably strong, losing a player like Fitzpatrick was shocking for both the fan base and the league as a whole.
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Steelers' Omar Khan and Minkah Fitzpatrick walk the field before a home game.
Ben Roethlisberger, one of the most iconic quarterbacks in Steelers history, admitted he was stunned by the move. Fitzpatrick has been a cornerstone of the defense since arriving in Pittsburgh, and his leadership, instincts, and playmaking ability made him one of the most valuable players on the roster. Trading him away sent a message that surprised many, including those closest to the organization.
Roethlisberger shared his thoughts during a recent episode of his podcast, Footbahlin, where he didn’t hold back. He called the trade surprising and made it clear that he didn’t see it coming. His honest reaction resonated with fans, many of whom felt the same sense of shock and disbelief. When a franchise legend like Roethlisberger gives his take, it carries weight, and his comments have only added to the growing conversation about the Steelers’ bold offseason decisions.
"The jaws dropped and I couldn’t believe it," Roethlisberger said. "I would say I was caught off guard with it, too. I may go all over the place with this, and I may bounce around with my thoughts, but I will try to hit as many things as I can."
For Roethlisberger, he had heard some rumblings, but he didn’t think they were coming from inside the building. He admitted that just because talking heads bring things up, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re legitimate.
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Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick speaks with Head Coach Mike Tomlin during an away game.
However, seeing the trade actually happen made him wonder if those rumblings were, in fact, coming from within the organization.
"I guess the first place I will go with this is I know there have been some talks in the last few years about maybe a lack of production or splash plays," Roethlisberger said. "I don’t have the analytics, and I don’t have the stats in front of me. This is all eye test and what I see and what I hear and stuff like that… They weren’t happy with it, but I didn’t think that it would get to this point."
Roethlisberger also made a great point during the podcast about how Fitzpatrick set the bar extremely high when he first came to Pittsburgh. Sometimes, when a player—or anyone in life—raises expectations so much, it can actually work against them. Even if their performance drops only slightly, people start saying they’ve 'fallen off,' simply because the standard was set so high.
Roethlisberger also suggested that Fitzpatrick’s production might have declined because opposing teams stopped taking those big risks against him. During the 2024 season, some hinted that Fitzpatrick struggled with coverage or seemed lost on the field, while others pointed out he appeared to have lost some of his speed.
Steelers' Omar Khan Improved Both Sides Of The Ball With Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade
Regardless of the reasons, the Steelers clearly decided he was no longer essential to their roster. General Manager Omar Khan found a trade partner and managed to improve both sides of the ball while only giving up Fitzpatrick.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, then with the Tennessee Titans, walks off the practice field with tight end Jonnu Smith.
The addition of Ramsey and Smith is exciting. Smith had a really great 2024 season, and it appears the Steelers view him more as a receiving tight end rather than just a traditional tight end, which was a big need. While losing Fitzpatrick hurts, many believe the Steelers made a wise move with this trade.
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