Minkah Fitzpatrick Bio
Minkah Annane Fitzpatrick Jr. (born November 17, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Fitzpatrick is notable for his skills on the field, earning multiple accolades and achievements such as being a three-time First-team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler.
Recognized for his versatility and outstanding performance in critical games throughout his career, Fitzpatrick has also been honored for his contributions off the field, including receiving the 2024 Bart Starr Award. He has developed into one of the league’s most respected defensive backs.
Early Life and Background
Minkah Annane Fitzpatrick Jr. was born to Melissa and Minkah Fitzpatrick Sr. in Old Bridge, New Jersey. He has four siblings: Justice, Promise, Destiny, and Devine. Growing up, Fitzpatrick faced financial struggles, particularly in 2011 when Hurricane Irene severely damaged his family’s home. His father, who had been laid off from his job as a truck mechanic, took on multiple jobs to support the family, while Minkah helped rebuild their home.
These early hardships instilled in him a strong sense of discipline, faith, and perseverance. Fitzpatrick, who was raised in a Christian household, has often spoken about the importance of his faith, citing Bible verses such as Micah 7:8, which he has said helped guide him through difficult times. He has remained deeply committed to his family and faith during his career, often crediting them as the foundation of his success both on and off the field.
Fitzpatrick attended St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he played high school football for the Marauders. He was a wide receiver on offense and a defensive back on defense. In 2014, he caught 45 passes for 1,111 yards and 12 touchdowns, while recording 70 tackles and three interceptions on defense. He also ran track, placing first at the Hudson County Championships with times of 10.86 seconds and 21.66 seconds in the 100 and 200 meters. Considered a five-star recruit by ESPN.com, Fitzpatrick was listed as the No. 4 cornerback in the nation in 2015.
Path to American Football
Fitzpatrick signed with Alabama at the 2015 National Signing Day, after being verbally committed for almost a year. As a true freshman in 2015, Fitzpatrick started 10 of 14 games, missing one game due to injury. He recorded 45 total tackles, with three for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions (both returned for scores), 11 pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and one punt return for a touchdown. He was part of the Alabama team that won the national championship over Clemson and was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News after that championship season.
In his sophomore season in 2016, Fitzpatrick returned an interception 100 yards in a 49–30 win over then-16th ranked Arkansas, breaking the Alabama Crimson Tide record for longest interception returned for a touchdown. In that same game, he tied the Alabama records for most interceptions in a game (3) and career interceptions returned for a touchdown (4). In the 2016 SEC Championship Game against Florida, Fitzpatrick broke the Alabama all-time record for career interceptions returned for a touchdown. He was named a consensus All-American for 2016.
In his junior season in 2017, Fitzpatrick recorded 60 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and seven passes defensed. He won his second national championship as the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia 26–23 in overtime. He earned the Chuck Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award, and was a Unanimous All-American for the second consecutive year. On January 11, 2018, Fitzpatrick announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Career
Miami Dolphins First Stint (2018–2019)
The Miami Dolphins selected Fitzpatrick in the first round with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, making him the first safety drafted that year. On June 1, 2018, the Dolphins signed Fitzpatrick to a fully guaranteed four-year, $16.4 million contract that included a signing bonus of $10.04 million. During training camp, he competed against T. J. McDonald for the starting free safety role, learning both safety positions and primarily running with the second team. Head coach Adam Gase named Fitzpatrick the primary backup safety to begin the regular season, behind starters McDonald and Reshad Jones.
On September 9, 2018, Fitzpatrick made his professional regular season debut in the Miami Dolphins’ home-opener against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 and recorded six combined tackles. In Week 3, he earned his first career start after Reshad Jones was declared inactive due to a shoulder injury. On September 30, 2018, he collected ten combined tackles, two pass deflections, and made his first career interception off a throw by Tom Brady intended for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett during a 38–7 loss at the New England Patriots. On December 16, 2018, Fitzpatrick collected a season-high six solo tackles and intercepted a pass by Kirk Cousins that he returned 50-yards for his first career touchdown. He finished his rookie season in 2018 with 80 combined tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defended, and a touchdown while appearing in all 16 games and starting in 11 of them. Throughout training camp the following year, head coach Brian Flores and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham began utilizing Fitzpatrick in multiple different roles in the secondary. On September 13, 2019, it was reported that Fitzpatrick was granted permission to have his agent seek a trade.
Pittsburgh Steelers Breakthrough (2019–2024)
On September 16, 2019, the Miami Dolphins traded Fitzpatrick, along with their 2020 fourth round and 2021 seventh round draft picks, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in exchange for multiple draft picks. Head coach Mike Tomlin immediately inserted him into the starting lineup, taking over the starting free safety role from Sean Davis. On September 22, 2019, Fitzpatrick made his debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers and recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and an interception against Jimmy Garoppolo. Later that season, he intercepted a pass by Brian Hoyer and returned it 96-yards for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, the third longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history. He started in all 14 games during his first season with the Steelers, posting five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns, and was voted to his first career Pro Bowl.
In 2020, defensive coordinator Keith Butler retained Fitzpatrick as the starting free safety. He forced a fumble on Lamar Jackson and broke up a pass in the endzone with no time left on the clock to secure a 28–24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He finished the 2020 season with 79 combined tackles, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended, helping the Steelers reach a 12–4 record and an AFC North title. On April 27, 2021, the Steelers chose to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. On June 15, 2022, Pittsburgh signed Fitzpatrick to a four-year, $73.61 million contract extension with $36.00 million guaranteed upon signing, making him the highest paid safety in the NFL at that time. He was later named a First-team All-Pro and voted to the 2023 Pro Bowl.
In 2023, Fitzpatrick started ten games before a left knee injury in December ended his season, and the Steelers reached the AFC Wildcard Game. In 2024, paired with new strong safety DeShon Elliott, Fitzpatrick started all 17 games and finished with 96 combined tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, and a forced fumble. He was voted to the 2025 Pro Bowl, along with T. J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Boswell. He also received the 2024 Bart Starr Award for his contributions on and off the field.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On June 30, 2025, Fitzpatrick, along with a 2027 fifth-round pick, was traded back to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. The move returned him to the franchise that originally drafted him. Fitzpatrick was entering the third year of his four-year, $73.61 million contract extension signed with Pittsburgh, which runs through the 2026 season.
His return to Miami was seen as a reunion with the team that developed him into a first-round talent. He was reunited with the Dolphins’ defensive scheme and the organization that originally selected him in 2018. Fitzpatrick’s re-acquisition came during a year in which Miami continued building around established veterans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fitzpatrick is widely regarded as one of the most versatile safeties in the NFL, capable of playing free safety, strong safety, nickelback, and cornerback. His football intelligence, tackling reliability, and ball skills have made him equally effective in zone coverage and as a playmaker near the line of scrimmage. He has consistently produced takeaways in critical moments, including game-sealing interceptions and pick-sixes against top quarterbacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fitzpatrick’s 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 ranks as the third longest interception return in Steelers franchise history. He was the first safety selected in the 2018 NFL draft and became the highest paid safety in the NFL with his 2022 contract extension, a position later surpassed by Derwin James. He is a three-time First-team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a two-time College Football Playoff national champion at Alabama.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Career Wins
Fitzpatrick’s win totals span two collegiate national championships and several productive NFL regular seasons, highlighted by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 12–4 finish in 2020 and multiple playoff appearances.
Professional Highlights
During his Steelers tenure, Fitzpatrick played a central role on a defense that reached the AFC Wildcard Game in both the 2020 and 2023 seasons. He earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2019, 2020, and 2022, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2022, he finished as the NFL’s interceptions co-leader with six picks and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his season-opening performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Other Wins and Performances
Fitzpatrick won two College Football Playoff national championships with the Alabama Crimson Tide, in 2015 over Clemson and in 2017 over Georgia. He earned the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award in 2017, and was a consensus All-American in 2016 and a unanimous All-American in 2017. He was also named First-team All-SEC in both 2016 and 2017.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Fitzpatrick was raised in a tight-knit household with his parents, Melissa and Minkah Fitzpatrick Sr., and four siblings: Justice, Promise, Destiny, and Devine. His younger brother, Justice Fitzpatrick, is a high school football player and a top recruit for the class of 2026, having signed to play college football at The University of Georgia in December 2025.
Personal Life
Fitzpatrick has been in a long-term relationship with Maya Stokes, a fashion model represented by Docherty Talent Agency in Pittsburgh. The couple maintains a private life, with Maya keeping a minimal online presence. On October 7, 2024, Fitzpatrick and Stokes welcomed their first child, a son named Uzai Fitzpatrick, at the Allegheny Health Network’s labor and delivery unit at Wexford Hospital. Uzai was born weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces.
2025 Season Performance
Fitzpatrick’s 2025 season storyline centers on his return to the Miami Dolphins, the franchise that originally drafted him in 2018. The trade that brought him back to Miami was completed on June 30, 2025, and he is expected to play a central role in the Dolphins’ secondary under new leadership. He remains under contract through the 2026 season.
As a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-team All-Pro, Fitzpatrick brings elite experience and versatility to a Miami defense that has prioritized veteran leadership. His ability to play multiple positions in the secondary, combined with his track record of takeaways, makes him a key piece of the Dolphins’ playoff push.
The outlook for Fitzpatrick in 2025 is anchored by his established track record of high-level performance and the stability of his long-term contract. His reunion with Miami marks a full-circle moment in his career and sets the stage for one of the more compelling storylines of the 2025 NFL season.