The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Wednesday that All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick signed a new four-year extension with the franchise. According to reports, Fitzpatrick became the highest-paid safety in the league as a result.
Fitzpatrick is now under contract with the Steelers through 2026. The extension comes with $73.6 million in new money and $36 million guaranteed. The 25-year-old’s $18.4 million annual salary eclipses the previous record mark of $17.5 million annually that Jamal Adams got from the Seattle Seahawks.
Minkah Fitzpatrick entered the league as a no. 11 selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he didn’t stick around for too long in Miami, as the Dolphins traded him to Pittsburgh early in his sophomore year. At the time, it was reported that Alabama product pushed for the move as he felt he wasn’t used in the best way possible.
It turned out Fitzpatrick was right, as his game went to the next level once he put on the Steelers’ jersey. He had an interception and a forced fumble in his debut and went on to finish the season with Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selections on his resume. The New Jersey native got the same honors in 2021 as well.
Fitzpatrick didn’t sustain the same level of production last season, but he was still one of the best safeties in the league. He finished with career-high 124 tackles to go with seven pass deflections and two interceptions.
“Minkah is one of the top safeties in the NFL, and we are thrilled he will be in Pittsburgh through at least the next five years,” said Steelers’ general manager Omar Khan in a statement. “When we traded for him, we knew he was going to be an integral part of our defense, and we look forward to that continuing as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
