The Surprising Trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers: A Look at How it Will Impact the AFC North Division

Minkah Annane Fitzpatrick Jr. (born November 17, 1996) is an American professional football safety currently playing for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a two-time national champion and widely regarded as one of the top defensive backs in the program’s history. Fitzpatrick was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. After starting his professional career in Miami, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played six seasons before returning to the Dolphins in 2025. Fitzpatrick has earned significant recognition throughout his NFL career, including five Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors, highlighting his status as one of the league’s premier safeties. Known for his playmaking ability, versatility, and leadership, he has been a key defensive figure, noted for highlight-reel interceptions and impactful plays. His college career included setting Alabama’s all-time record for interception returns for touchdowns, underscoring his ball-hawking skills. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 207 pounds, Fitzpatrick's athleticism was evident early on during his high school career at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he excelled in football and track. Off the field, Fitzpatrick is noted for his leadership qualities and strong locker-room presence. In recent developments, Fitzpatrick’s 2025 return to the Miami Dolphins has been a focal point in NFL news, with the team restructuring his contract to secure his long-term presence. He continues to be a vital part of the Dolphins’ defense, contributing to their efforts in the current NFL season[1][2][4][5].

Patrick Queen is a professional American football linebacker currently playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL)[1][4]. Born on August 13, 1999, in Ventress, Louisiana, Queen stands 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 232 pounds[4][6]. He played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he developed into one of the team’s top defensive players. His breakout season came in 2019, when he earned Defensive MVP honors in LSU’s national championship victory over Clemson, capping a year in which he started 11 games and was known for his versatility and leadership on a historically dominant defense[2]. Queen finished his LSU career with 131 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks over 41 games (16 starts), opting to forgo his senior season to enter the 2020 NFL Draft[2]. Queen was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (28th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, making an immediate impact as a starter[2][4]. Over four seasons with the Ravens, he became a consistent presence on defense, known for his tackling ability, speed, and sideline-to-sideline range. By the end of the 2023 season, he had amassed 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and an interception in a single season, reflecting his steady production[7]. In total, through five NFL seasons, Queen has recorded 583 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions in 84 career games (all starts)[1][7]. Ahead of the 2024 season, Queen signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking a notable shift within the AFC North division and adding experience to the Steelers’ linebacker corps[1][7]. His move was one of the highlights of Pittsburgh’s offseason, as the team sought to bolster its defense with proven talent[1]. Queen remains a relevant figure in the NFL as a durable, productive linebacker entering the prime of his career, now contributing to one of the league’s most historic rivalries between the Steelers and Ravens[1][4]. Off the field, Queen is recognized for his work ethic and has been noted for mentoring younger players during his college years[2]. As of 2025, he continues to be a key defensive player for the Steelers, with his performance closely watched in a competitive AFC North[1][4].

Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is a prominent entrepreneur and business magnate known for founding and leading several transformative technology companies. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States and earned bachelor's degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. Musk began his entrepreneurial career in the 1990s by co-founding Zip2, a software company, and later X.com, which evolved into PayPal, an online payment system acquired by eBay in 2002. In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX, a pioneering aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, where he serves as CEO and chief engineer. SpaceX is notable for its advancements in reusable rocket technology and commercial spaceflight. In 2004, he joined Tesla Motors as an early investor and took on the roles of CEO and product architect in 2008, driving the company to the forefront of electric vehicle manufacturing. Musk also co-founded Neuralink in 2016, focusing on neurotechnology, and founded The Boring Company in 2017, which develops tunneling and infrastructure projects. In 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI to promote artificial intelligence research but later left due to differences in vision, subsequently founding xAI. In 2022, he acquired the social media platform Twitter, rebranding it as X in 2023, and has been involved in various business and political activities, including a brief advisory role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency in early 2025. Musk is recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with an estimated net worth of $500 billion as of October 2025. His career is marked by significant influence across sectors including space exploration, electric vehicles, AI, social media, and infrastructure development, with ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny related to his business practices and investments. He is also known for his complex personal life, including fathering 14 children[1][2][3].

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].