PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The race may have been over by Week One as the Steelers players voted Minkah Fitzpatrick as the Team MVP on Friday.
Fitzpatrick had a season in the opener against the Bengals-scoring on a 31-yard Pick Six, leading the team with 14 tackles and when the game was on the line, he blocked an extra point to give the Steelers a chance to win.
The safety is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six, has 11 passes defended and 86 tackles (51 solo) in 14 games.
It's the third consecutive year a defensive player has won team MVP, TJ Watt was the winner the last two years.
Before that the previous defensive player to win MVP was also a safety, Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu in 2010. Two other safeties have been named Steelers MVP-Hall of Famer Donnie Shell in 1980 and Glen Edwards in 1974.
The first winner of the team MVP award was receiver Roy Jefferson in 1969. The first multiple winner was also the first back-to-back winner, Terry Bradshaw in 1977 and 1978. Other multiple winners:
· Jack Lambert
· John Stallworth
· Louis Lipps
· Rod Woodson (3)
· Greg Lloyd
· Jerome Bettis (3)
· Levon Kirkland
· Hines Ward (3)
· James Harrison
· Antonio Brown (4)
· Le'Veon Bell
Since being picked up in a trade in early 2019, Fitzpatrick has 17 interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three touchdowns and 38 passes defended.
