Steelers sign Fitzpatrick to record deal
The Steelers signed safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a five-year contract Wednesday. Financial details weren’t released, but the NFL Network reported the deal is worth $73.6 million.
That would make Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in the league.
The 25-year-old Fitzpatrick was ready to enter the final year of his rookie contract. He was acquired in a trade with Dolphins in September 2019 and was selected to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team in each of his first two seasons with the Steelers.
The deal gives the Steelers defense three pillars to build around as it begins the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. The Steelers signed reigning defensive player of the year T.J. Watt to a mega-contract last summer and veteran All-Pro defensive end Cam Heyward is entering his 12th season with the club.
Fitzpatrick is coming off a solid 2021 in which he had a career-best 124 tackles — the most by a defensive back in the league — to go with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He’s also missed just one game.
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Colleges: George Washington is dropping its “Colonials” moniker because “it can no longer serve its purpose as a name that unifies,” the school announced. GW will keep using Colonials until a new name is introduced. That is expected by the 202324 academic year. The school has used the nickname since 1926.
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