Following multiple seasons in the AFC North, fate brought the former Alabama standout back to the team that gave him his first NFL opportunity back in 2018 — only this time, he returns more mature and with significantly more experience.

During a recent conversation on Monday with reporters at Mike McDaniel’s training camp, Fitzpatrick expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career and highlighted the differences between the player who first entered the league and the one he is today.

“I would say I’m definitely a lot more emotionally mature,” he explained. “I think I was very emotionally unintelligent back then. Like I just said, I learned from my mistakes and I tried to grow in that area. I tried to get to know the people around me better and learn how to communicate, learn how to not communicate. Just stuff like that, for sure.”

The culture shift in South Florida

Fitzpatrick’s early departure from the Dolphins might have suggested that a return wouldn’t come with the best attitude. However, the safety made it clear he holds no hard feelings about what happened in the past. Instead, he emphasized the cultural shift in Miami — something he believes will lead to more wins than losses moving forward.

“Definitely. Like I said earlier, I’m really liking the energy and direction that this is going,” he said. “I think the culture of this locker room is one that wants to win and win now, but it’s also something that I want to earn. I know it was reported that I wanted a new contract, but I just wanted to know that I was going to be here for more than a season and I got that.

“And now, I’m going to go out there, play All-Pro, Pro Bowl level and hopefully earn the respect of my teammates and the organization to have that long-term contract.“

Aiming to be a long-term Dolphin

Fitzpatrick’s hope of signing a long-term deal in Miami isn’t just tied to the vision shared by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel, but also to the desire of stepping onto the field at Hard Rock Stadium as many times as possible.

“I think there’s a standard that Mike and Grier are trying to set and I think it’s working hard, being disciplined, being committed to this team, stripping yourself of ego,” he said. “It’s a very ego-driven sport and I think the best teams are the teams that remove the ego, let down the mask and the pride and play winning football, winning team football — offense, defense, special teams — and that’s the message that they sent to the team. It’s the same message that they sent to me.”

The safety also added: “I’m very excited. It’s very nostalgic. We played here two seasons ago and I remember pulling up to the stadium and walking on the field. I felt like I was back in time and now it’s the same feeling, just being back down here. Obviously, it’s a different facility — it’s a beautiful facility — but like I said, it’s very nostalgic. A lot of the staff and trainers and stuff like that is the same, so it was almost like I just went back in time.”

The NFL is a beautiful place because when you think the waters are calming, a blockbuster trade happens! Today is one of those days as the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded to get Mike Tomlin a Super Bowl-winning player. This is now the third Super Bowl champ that they’ve brought in this offseason following Aaron Rodgers and Darius Slay’s arrival. The other team involved in this trade is none other than the Miami Dolphins, who will get a familiar face in return.

Jalen Ramsey is packing his bags to move to the black-and-gold. The report was made by Tom Pelissero, from NFL Network. After winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, Ramsey played for the Dolphins, but wanted out this offseason. Now, he gets to go to one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

Ramsey will have an adjusted contract that inludes a $1.5 million raise in 2025. His total salary this year will be $26.6 million. The Steelers traded three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to get Ramsey, who is a three-time All-Pro cornerback.

The Dolphins reunite with a top-tier safety

In 2018, the Dolphins drafted safety Minkah Fitzpatrick with the 11th overall pick. However, it didn’t last long, as in his second season he was traded to Pittsburgh after two games played. He ended as an All-Pro that year. Now, six years later, the Fins reunite with Fitzpatrick after shipping Ramsey to the Steelers.

Now, Miami has seriously strenghten its secondary, as it had signed two safeties prior to this move in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Asthyn Davis. It’s safe to say Fitzpatrick is an upgrade as he is one of the best in the entire NFL, but it proves the Dolphins were desperate to get some help there. Fitzpatrick will turn 29 years old this season, so they get a top-tier player in the middle of his prime.

Steelers and Dolphins involve another player in blockbuster trade

But wait! The Dolphins and Steelers are making other business moves too! It was reported a while back that Pittsburgh wanted to land Miami’s tight end, Jonnu Smith. Well, one thing led to another, and now the Steelers are getting Smith in exchange for a 2027 5th-round pick.

Smith is coming off a career-year where he made the Pro Bowl, racked up 884 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He will join Pat Freiermuth and become one half of the deepest tight end room there is. Jonnu will reunite with Arthur Smith, the Steelers offensive coordinator. They were together back in Tennessee and now will have the chance to shine at Acrisure Stadium.

“I am very excited,” Fitzpatrick said, “I am still kind of in shock right now. It’s a blessing. I am really excited. It’s just the beginning. I am appreciative. I am thankful. Now I just want to keep on chopping.”

Now Fitzpatrick joins a select group of being the highest paid player in his position in the NFL. Here are how the top earning safeties in the NFL breakdown.

Top earning NFL safeties

With the announcement of Fitzpatrick’s new contract, it will elevate him to a reported $18.4 million per year, now in second place is Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks, who makes $17.5 million a year.

Marcus Williams of the Baltimore Ravens earns a total cash earnings of $16 million, Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos earns $15.1 million, and Quandre Diggs is at $14 million per Spotrac.

Minkah Fitzpatrick has improved over the years with the Steelers, having 124 tackles in 2021 and has 11 interceptions over the last three years with the club. Minkah Fitzpatrick has also been a rock on the roster missing all of one game in that three-year span.