The downward spiral for the Steelers persists, and Minkah Fitzpatrick did not hold back in criticizing some of his teammates following Thursday night’s disappointing 21-18 defeat to the New England Patriots.
Establishing himself as a leader in the Steelers’ defense, Fitzpatrick expressed discontent with certain teammates who seem to assume success merely because they wear the Pittsburgh Steelers’ colors.
RELATED: Steelers DC Calls Out Opponents For Using ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ Strategy Against T.J. Watt
“In the NFL, nothing’s handed to you. You have to earn everything,” Fitzpatrick emphasized to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. He went on to point out that some players appear to believe that wearing the black and gold guarantees victory, stressing the need to challenge this mentality and reinforce the importance of earning success on the field.
Fitzpatrick aired his frustrations after the Steelers suffered their second loss to a team with only two wins in less than a week, following a defeat to the Arizona Cardinals the previous Sunday. With a current record of 7-6, the team is rapidly losing ground as they approach the final four games of the season.
To secure a spot in the playoffs, a substantial improvement in performance is imperative for the Steelers, given their recent struggles in the last two games.