‘Know that I’ll be here more than a season.’ Minkah Fitzpatrick breaks silence
The quiet had nothing to do with unhappiness.
That’s according to Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who finally broke his silence Monday morning after roughly a month since a trade returned him to South Florida.
“My silence was not a reflection about how I felt about this team or organization,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that he’s “extremely excited to be a Miami Dolphin.”
This comes just days after a reworked contract converted some of Fitzpatrick’s salary into a $16.2 million signing bonus and moved up $2 million in salary to 2025 as the sides continue to work on a long-term deal. That means he will pocket $17.5 million in 2025 and $15.6 million next year.
“I just wanted to know that I’ll be here more than a season,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that he “definitely” wants to be in Miami long-term. “When I got that, now go out there and and play All-Pro, Pro-Bowl level and hopefully earn the respect of my teammates and the organization to have that long-term contract.”
Fitzpatrick arrives in Miami at a pivotal time in the franchise. Following the first sub-.500 season of coach Mike McDaniel’s career in which issues of accountability and discipline emerged, the Dolphins wanted remake their image. Part of that process included a trade that sent two Pro Bowlers in cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Fitzpatrick and a pick swap.
The expectation is for Fitzpatrick, an eight-year veteran with three All-Pros and five Pro Bowls under his belt, to lead a relatively young secondary.
“There’s a standard that Mike and [Dolphins general manager Chris] Grier are trying to set,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s working hard. Being disciplined. Being committed to this team. Stripping yourself of ego.”
Added Fitzpatrick: “It’s a very ego-driven sport, but I think the best teams are the teams that remove the ego, let down the mask and the pride and play winning, team football.”
Although naturally more of a quiet person, Fitzpatrick is more than suited to lead a secondary comprised primarily of players who have less than three years of experience. Throw away the accolades as well as the talent and there would still be a guy who has always been a cultural paragon dating to his days at the University of Alabama. Just ask his former Crimson Tide teammates Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle.
“There is the standard and there is someone you can look at and you can say, ‘that’s a standard,’” the franchise quarterback said Wednesday. “I can’t put words to what that standard is, but I kind of want to gravitate towards that person and I think that’s what Minkah gives off.”
“Minkah is very quiet, but when he does talk, everybody listens,” the wide receiver added Saturday. “He’s got one of them personalities when he gets on the field. Just got that dawg, brings that energy. He’s been here a couple days but it’s just like the defense gravitates towards him, it feels like when he’s in and makes a big play.”
It didn’t take long for that big play to happen, either. With the fans in the stands on Saturday, Fitzpatrick snagged the first pick of training camp. The moment displayed just how lethal Fitzpatrick can actually be as he initially lined up in the nickel before tracking the ball across the field in order to intercept quarterback Zach Wilson’s overthrown ball.
“Did you see that pick?” cornerback Jack Jones exclaimed Monday. “ That was ridiculous. He’s a beast.”
With Fitzpatrick on the back end, the defense has looked dominant during the first week of training camp. The pass rush, specifically, consisitently generated sacks or errant passes, somewhat masking the lack of experience at cornerback. With that hole addressed on Saturday considering the addition of corners like Jones and Mike Hilton, the defense has a potential to be special — in large part due to the connectivity between the secondary and that pass rush.
“All great defenses start up front,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m a DB and I’m not afraid to admit that. They got some dogs up front.”
This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM.
