The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the entire fan base and NFL world when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick back to the Miami Dolphins. When the Steelers got him from Miami early in his career, Fitzpatrick quickly became an All-Pro safety and a key piece of Pittsburgh’s defense. Over time, though, many fans began to feel like his play was slipping, and it seems the Steelers agreed.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick walk across the field at Acrisure Stadium before a home game during the 2024 NFL season.
In return for Fitzpatrick, the Steelers acquired veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. The move raised eyebrows across the league, not just because of Fitzpatrick’s reputation, but because of what it signaled about the team’s direction. Ramsey brings a physical presence to the secondary, and Smith gives the offense a much-needed boost at tight end. The Steelers clearly wanted to shake things up on both sides of the ball.
When General Manager Omar Khan was asked why the team moved on from Fitzpatrick, his response was eye opening. Khan took time to speak to the media on Wednesday as training camp kicked off. He spoke about the importance of retooling the roster with players who better fit the team’s current vision and playing style. Khan made it clear that difficult decisions are sometimes necessary in order to keep the team competitive, and this trade was one of them.
"I don't know if it necessarily was moving on from Minkah," Khan said via the Steelers' YouTube page. "We had an opportunity to acquire two Pro Bowl players that we felt, with where we are as a team, made sense for us. Have a lot of respect for Minkah. Minkah was a great football player for a few years for us and wish him the best. But it was really the opportunity to acquire these two players that we think can help us."
That response from Khan was not only well-stated but perfectly captured the Steelers’ mindset. It makes complete sense that Pittsburgh decided to go all-in on this roster for the 2025 season. Even if the organization still believed Fitzpatrick could play at an All-Pro level, the opportunity to acquire two proven Pro Bowlers in return was simply too valuable to ignore. For a team trying to maximize its current championship window, it was a calculated and aggressive move.
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Former Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick gets brutally stiff-armed by Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry during a tough playoff moment.
Ramsey is coming off a strong 2024 season and, while some believe his best years may be behind him, the Steelers clearly don’t share that view. The coaching staff expects Ramsey to play a major role in revitalizing the secondary and providing veteran leadership to a retooled defense.
The same goes for Smith, who had a breakout year with the Dolphins last season and earned Pro Bowl recognition. Now in Pittsburgh, Smith will look to build on that momentum while catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, a major upgrade at quarterback that should put him in position to succeed.
Steelers Didn't Want To Trade Minkah Fitzpatrick
What stood out most was how open and direct Khan was when discussing the decision to trade Fitzpatrick. It’s obvious the Steelers had great respect for him and didn’t take the move lightly. However, in the ever-changing landscape of the NFL, even beloved players are not immune to business decisions.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise for years to come.
As Khan made clear, this was about building the best roster possible for right now. And in the NFL, the business is just that—the business. It seems as if Fitzpatrick was just the asset the Dolphins needed in return to land the two Pro Bowl players. The Steelers and Khan did a good job keeping this roster in win-now mode, and that trade was a byproduct of that.
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