My Favorite Alabama Football Player of all Time: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Choosing just one player as my favorite Alabama Football player of all time is a tall order. If I must, the one who earns the top spot would be former defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.

I’m too young to have enjoyed the greats such as Shaun Alexander, Kenny Stabler, or Joe Namath, so my choice had to come from the newer legends – Tua Tagovailoa, Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and the like. I believe I have come to the conclusion that my favorite Alabama Football player of all time is Minkah Fitzpatrick.

If it weren’t for Minkah, I would have had a hard choice between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. That was a decision I really couldn’t make, so I decided on Minkah instead. At one point during the 2017 season, I decided I was going to name my first child- boy or girl – Jalen Minkah. It seemed as though as soon as Jalen stalled on offense, Minkah came in to save the day.

Minkah Fitzpatrick played a variety of roles on the football field. He typically played safety but was also used as an edge rusher from time to time. During his last season with the Alabama Football team before declaring for the NFL draft, he totaled 38 solo tackles, eight tackles for a loss, one fumble and one interception (in the same game), and eight pass breakups.

His illustrious collegiate career ended with a Bednarik and Thorpe award for the best defensive player and the best defensive back, only the third player in history to receive both in the same season.

Minkah was a difference-maker on the field. He came in clutch at the most important times and could single-handedly remove one side of the field for the opposing offense. As a true freshman, Minkah recorded two interceptions for touchdowns against Texas A&M in the same game.

Anytime the ball was in the air, there was always the threat that Minkah would bring it in and “fly down the sidelines”, as Verne Lundquist said, for a touchdown. He had incredible ball skills and read the eyes of opposing quarterbacks better than anyone. He was electric on the field regardless of where he lined up.

Minkah was the voice – the on-field, defensive coordinator – that ensured everyone else did their job and lined up correctly. He had tremendous leadership skills among an elite defense – one that likely will never be matched.

This is the list of starters Minkah played with, in the 2016 season:

1. Marlon Humphrey
2. Jonathan Allen
3. Reuben Foster
4. Ryan Anderson
5. Dalvin Tomlinson
6. Tim Williams
7. Eddie Jackson
8. Da’Ron Payne
9. Ronnie Harrison
10. Shaun Dion Hamilton

The 2016 Alabama Football defense was next level elite, and Minkah was a key factor in what made it so special.

Minkah Fitzpatrick also has a humbling story. In 2011, the Fitzpatrick family lost everything to a devastating hurricane that decimated the New Jersey town where Minkah grew up. The Fitzpatrick home succumbed to flooding from the hurricane leaving Minkah and his four siblings and parents homeless.

The family lacked proper insurance for the damage because of the rarity of the event in New Jersey. The family of seven was forced to live in the basement of their grandparent’s home. Minkah worked through the year prior to his freshman year at the Catholic prep school while sleeping on an air mattress with six others in a basement surely too small for the family.

His future was in jeopardy, but his parents made the sacrifice to send Minkah to the Catholic prep school that would benefit his future athletic career. After a long day at school, football practice, and football meetings, Minkah would have to come home to help his father with projects on the house they were trying to fix.

A teenager had a workload more than most adults could handle, but he attributes these hardships for the work ethic and maturity he brought to college as a freshman. Starting out as a fourth-team defensive back, he ended up winning the nickel back job over several returning players. He made an immediate impact as a freshman and impressed everyone around him.

From a kid who used to have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch everyday, because he couldn’t afford the real school lunch, he has made quite a path for himself through his grit and determination, all the way to the NFL.

After starting his career with the Miami Dolphins, he now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Minkah went from homeless to living in a basement to making $17 million over the next four seasons with the Steelers. In his first game with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick hauled in an interception proving his multi-million dollar worth early.

Minkah’s story is what makes him so special. He is no stranger to hardship but very evidently lets that make him better. He uses that to motivate him to succeed.

His football instincts were second to none. He understood the game well and his freakish athletic ability stood par with his knowledge of the game. He was clutch in huge moments for the Alabama Football team and led the 2015, 2016, and 2017 glory years of Tide defenses.

Minkah is the second of six ‘favorite’ players from the Bama Hammer staff. Yesterday it was Joe Namath. Check-in with us each morning for the rest.