The Pittsburgh Steelers won six of their last seven games to finish 9-8, assuring that head coach Mike Tomlin would keep his steak of winning seasons alive. However, they missed the playoffs.

Pittsburgh has some positive things to take away from the season, and one is the play of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The former first-round pick racked up 96 tackles, and his six interceptions (career-high) finished tied for the NFL lead.

As a result of his stellar year, Fitzpatrick was given a prestigious honor within the Steelers' organization. He was named the team's MVP for the 2022 season.

"It's an honor for sure that my teammates voted. I'm honored that my teammates see me as the MVP," Fitzpatrick said.

Pittsburgh has bestowed this honor on its players since 1969. The safety position has only won it four times including Fitzpatrick, and he's the first since Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu in 2010.

The Steelers have been searching for their next great safety since Polamalu hung up the cleats after the 2014 season. With 17 interceptions in his four seasons in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick is doing his best to fill those humongous shoes, which isn't a small task.

When accepting the award earlier this week, Fitzpatrick had nothing but praise for Polamalu and what he brought to the game of football.

“Troy was a playmaker,” Fitzpatrick said. “He was an extremely instinctive safety and moved around, could do whatever they asked him to do. I kind of see myself in a similar light. He’s a guy that had a nose for the football. I try and find the football. He was a guy that was always in position, never out of position, so sometimes the ball will find him. People call it luck who don’t know football. But it’s just being in the right position, looking at the right things. I try to do that as well.

“If you’re a great football player, the best way to learn is from other great football players, so Troy’s definitely a guy, whether I played here or for another team, I definitely would model my game after.”

Fitzpatrick signed a four-year extension worth $73.6 million back in June. To say the Steelers have received an immediate return on their investment is an understatement.

Feature image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports