MIAMI GARDENS — Minkah Fitzpatrick began his first Miami Dolphins press conference since 2019 with the seldom-used opening statement.
Minkah wanted us to know his recent silence was not a byproduct of frustration about a return to Miami.
“I’m extremely, extremely excited to be a Miami Dolphin,” Fitzpatrick said following the fifth Dolphins training camp practice of 2025.
Minkah wanted us to know he views his departure from Pittsburgh as unfortunate, but also the reality of business in the NFL.
“Thank you to the city of Pittsburgh, the fans of Pittsburgh, you guys treated me very well,” Fitzpatrick said.
Will Minkah Fitzpatrick sign long-term contract with Dolphins?
Yes, Fitzpatrick, now 28, would like to sign with Miami long-term.
But what he really wanted worked out behind the scenes by new agent Drew Rosenhaus was a contract that would turn 2026 money from unguaranteed to guaranteed.
“I just wanted to know that I was gonna be here for more than a season,” Fitzpatrick explained. “You know what I’m saying? And I got that. And now I’m gonna go out there and play, you know, all pro-level, and hopefully earn the respect of my teammates.”
Fitzpatrick, a first-round pick of the Dolphins in 2018, was traded to Pittsburgh in just his second season.
It’s been reported Fitzpatrick was unhappy with the intentional teardown of the roster before 2019.
It’s been reported Fitzpatrick was unhappy with how he was used by former coach Brian Flores.
“I’m not gonna take any questions about Pittsburgh or previous coaches or anything like that,” Fitzpatrick said, as part of an opening statement. “I would like to respectfully talk about this current situation, this team, my players, my coaches. And I would appreciate if you would all respect those wishes.”
One thing Fitzpatrick did candidly reflect on was how he’s grown as a person since 2018.
Miami Dolphins’ Minkah Fitzpatrick: How I’ve grown
“Yeah, that’s a good question,” Fitzpatrick said. “I would say I’m definitely a lot more emotionally mature. I think I was very emotionally unintelligent back then. Now, like I just said, I learned from my mistakes, you know what I’m saying? And I tried to grow in that area.”
How?
“I tried to get to know the people around me better and learn how to communicate, learn how to not communicate, you know what I’m saying?” Fitzpatrick said. “Just stuff like that, for sure … letting that ego down, letting that pride down, understanding that you’re not gonna be perfect. And having good people around you who are gonna’ be honest with you.”
The Dolphins and Fitzpatrick will explore long-term contract options.
“I’m really liking the energy and the direction that this is going,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the culture of this locker room is one that wants to win and win now. But it’s also something (a new contract) that I wanna earn.”
Fitzpatrick has been a five-time Pro Bowler for the Steelers. But he wants to accomplish goals he set entering the NFL ― as a Dolphin.
“I haven’t won a playoff game, I haven’t been to a Super Bowl, I haven’t won a conference championship, so there’s a lot for me that I still want to accomplish,” Fitzpatrick said. “You know what I’m saying? There’s still a lot left for me to, you know, check off the goal list.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Minkah Fitzpatrick: I’m a lot more emotionally mature now
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
