Former Steelers DL Rips Minkah Fitzpatrick

Minkah Fitzpatrick made quite a statement about those in the locker room after the Steelers’ loss to the New England Patriots. He called out teammates for an entitled sense of culture and a lack of work ethic throughout the entire locker room, leading some to question the culture in the locker room.

“I think too many people don’t want to toil for it. They just want to walk out here and think that they’re going to make plays and think that they’re going to perform at a high level. I think we need to have more people who want to work for it, not expect it to be handed to them,” Fitzpatrick told ESPN. “This is the NFL. Nothing’s handed to you. You got to earn everything. I think that dudes just think that because they’re wearing the black and gold, that they’re going to win games, and I think we need to check that mentality and make people realize that they got to earn that mentality.”

Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick stretches before his team’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 12, 2023 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

But now Minkah Fitzpatrick is feeling some fire. On 93.7 the Fan, former Steelers defensive lineman Chris Hoke was critical of Fitzpatrick and his play this season. Fitzpatrick missed four games with a hamstring injury but has no turnover production, and Hoke sees that as a serious problem.

“Minkah has 64 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries. “A” players have to play “A” ball in games like last Thursday & this Saturday. They haven’t gotten that from him this season,” Hoke said.

This seems to be off the mark a bit. While Fitzpatrick does not have production, there are a few reasons, if not the main one being that teams actively avoid him and attack linebackers and other safeties. Fitzpatrick has played well and erased tight ends he has faced. Even when working as a linebacker and playing underneath in the box, he has done that at a high level. To be blunt, Fitzpatrick is not even a fraction part of the problem, and has had to pick up the slack from those around him who are not carrying their weight.