Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said that he’s excited to be back with the franchise that drafted him, and he wants to remain with the Dolphins for the long haul.
He said he wants to be here longterm and his lack of public comment to this point had nothing to do with Dolphins and he was not frustrated https://t.co/AOYzKz7zIm
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 28, 2025
This is great news for Miami, as Fitzpatrick was the prized return of the team’s trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason. In the deal, Miami sent tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzpatrick should immediately upgrade a Dolphins secondary that lost safety Jevon Holland to the New York Giants in free agency. Holland had been a key piece of the Dolphins’ secondary over the last four seasons, racking up 301 tackles, five sacks and five interceptions during his time in Miami.
Fitzpatrick was traded to the Steelers during his second season in the NFL by the Dolphins, but it seems pretty clear that the organization has always held the safety in high regard. After all, the Dolphins selected Fitzpatrick with the No. 11 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and they opted to trade for him this offseason even though he’s nearing 30 years old.
During the 2024 season, Fitzpatrick started all 17 games for the Steelers and finished with 96 tackles, one interception, four passes defended and one forced fumble. A three-time All-Pro, Fitzpatrick also earned his third straight Pro Bowl selection in the 2024 season.
For the Dolphins, having a veteran like Fitzpatrick around for the long haul could go a long way in helping the team reach the playoffs and eventually win a playoff game under head coach Mike McDaniel.
Miami made the playoffs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but it came up short in the 2024 season for the first time since McDaniel took over as the franchise’s head coach.
Since the Dolphins moved on from Ramsey in the Fitzpatrick trade, it helps that they brought back such a sturdy veteran to anchor the secondary in the 2025 season.
Hopefully, the Dolphins will be able to get back in the playoff mix in the AFC with some better luck in the health department in the 2025 season. Last season, Miami struggled with starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six of the team’s 17 games.
