Minkah Fitzpatrick is quite familiar with the New York Jets.

The former first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins had two stints in South Florida, which meant two games each year against Gang Green. Add in three clashes when the All-Pro was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Fitzpatrick is well aware of what the Jets are all about.

There’s a bigger reason why the 29-year-old is pleased to be back in Florham Park, though. As a child, the Old Bridge, N.J., native grew up attending the Jets’ facility for high school camps well before his professional playing days.

Following Miami’s trade of the veteran safety, Fitzpatrick is pleased to be part of a full-circle moment in 2026.

He also addressed why his former team decided to deal him for the second time.

Fitzpatrick excited to be back in New Jersey

Fitzpatrick wasn’t surprised when he received the phone call on Monday morning telling him he had been traded. The Dolphins had been open with him enough to know he would be playing in a new town this season… even if he didn’t fully agree with the call.

“The Dolphins decided to make the decision,” Fitzpatrick said. “(You) have to ask those guys what they’re trying to accomplish for that. (I’m) happy to be here and be back home.”

New York has been desperate for a quality leader in the secondary like Fitzpatrick. Last season, the Jets were among the worst pass defenses in the NFL and held the dubious distinction of being the first organization to go an entire season without recording an interception.

That’s something Fitzpatrick knows must change in 2026.

“I think when you look at turnovers, a lot of them are mistakes by the quarterback or getting pressure,” Fitzpatrick said. “The signings we’re making this offseason is to generate that pressure and give the quarterback different looks.”

For Fitzpatrick, joining a team he visited many times when he was younger makes him even more excited for the year ahead.

“I still have a lot of friends and family back here,” he said. “I’ve been to the Jets facility multiple times when I was younger, when I was competing in the NFTC, the Nike high school camps and whatnot. It’s a lot of flashbacks being back in this building. It’s really cool to just play in the stadium that I played my high school state championships in.

“It’s a full-circle moment, for sure.”

The return isn’t just about coming home, though. Fitzpatrick, being one of the older players on the Jets roster, understands his role as a leader who can help turn the organization’s fortunes around.

Having other veteran leaders like linebacker Demario Davis and David Onyemata to aid in that goal certainly helps.

“It’s extremely important,” Fitzpatrick said. “When things go bad, people want to press the red button. When guys who have done things at a high level for a long time, they know that there’s going to be bumps in the road, but have to keep going on and making small adaptations and playing good football.”

Jets’ secondary roles

Fitzpatrick has played in many roles throughout his playing career. Early on, he was a true free safety and one of the best ballhawks in the game. In his first five professional seasons, Fitzpatrick recorded 19 interceptions to go along with three first-team All-Pro nods.

His role has changed since then.

Following an offseason trade that sent him back to Miami for the second time in his career, Fitzpatrick found himself playing more as a nickel in 2025 due to the rash of injuries suffered by the Dolphins.

It’s a role he expects to be playing again this season in New York, although he admits that he hasn’t spoken about it with the coaching staff just yet.

“I haven’t talked to AG or (defensive coordinator) Brian Duker about exactly what they want me to do, but I don’t see it being too different than what I did last year,” he said.

“Playing that nickel role and playing the big safety role or big nickel role. I don’t know what defense we’re going to be running, so it could be totally different.”

What gives the safety the most confidence to produce at a high level this season, though, is his relationship with Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. The veteran is hoping the former Pro Bowl corner will have a few tricks up his sleeve to get New York’s secondary to a much better status than last year.

“I’m really excited to play for coach [Glenn,]” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s a guy who played high-level football in his life and in his career. He’s a guy who views the game in a very similar manner to a lot of guys that play my position. Of course, there’s that DB bias. I’m extremely excited to play for him.”

Under the leadership of Glenn and Brian Duker, whom he played under in Miami, Fitzpatrick believes the Jets are ready to take a major leap defensively.

“Excited to play with all the guys they signed recently and the younger guys that we have on the team already. I think we have all the necessary parts to be a really great defense under the guidance of AG, and Duker, and those guys.”

New York still has plenty of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. The Jets can fill some of them in the draft, where they possess four picks within the first 50 overall selections. But the addition of Fitzpatrick and several other veterans is expected to raise the group’s floor.

It may even be enough for a full-fledged turnaround in 2026.