Former Steelers defend Minkah Fitzpatrick after accusations of a dirty hit on Nick Chubb

During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Monday Night Football” win over the Cleveland Browns, numerous Cleveland fans took to social media accusing Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick of a dirty hit on Browns running back Nick Chubb. The collision resulted in a significant knee injury for Chubb, ending his season.

The belief from many Browns fans is that Fitzpatrick either targeted Chubb’s knee with his helmet or body intentionally or was, at the very least, recklessly going after Chubb’s legs while linebacker Cole Holcomb was trying to wrangle him to the ground up high.

Nick Chubb is down with an apparent leg injury.pic.twitter.com/lmTxrJlT5P

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 19, 2023

Upon seeing the criticism, former Steelers Vince Williams and Ryan Clark lashed back at that characterization of Fitzpatrick’s tackle.

I've been ran over by Nick Chubb several times. Tackling him up high is not the best decision. Injuries happen, and runningbacks are the least protected position on offense. Tell your kids to play another position.

— Vince Williams (@VinnyVidiVici98) September 19, 2023

This is dumb… it's just football. No way Minkah intended to do that or can anticipate it. https://t.co/Q6nttfbmXF

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 19, 2023

If a defender goes high and a player gets concussed he's dirty! If a defender goes low and a player gets a lower extremity injury he's dirty. Where can he hit a runner then y'all? I mean sheesh. The growing softness of this game and the sensitivity of those who watch it saddens…

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 19, 2023

Another former Steelers defensive player, Ike Taylor, was on the “’DVE Morning Show“ on Tuesday. He also refuted the allegations that Fitzpatrick’s hit was dirty or illegal.

“I don’t think Minkah intentionally did nothing dirty,” Taylor said.

Taylor says that defensive players have been schooled to avoid hitting any player up high — ever — so the instinct and habit has now become to go low, especially when trying to tackle a player as powerful as Chubb.

“That’s where you got to go. Y’all wanna change the rules and say I can’t touch your helmet no more, (then) I’ve got to hit you from your knees down. And that’s what it is.” Taylor said. “I mean, what do you want these guys (to do)? I know the NFL and fans want to see high-scoring games, but as a player, on the defensive side, I’ve still got to protect myself and protect myself by being aggressive. I’m on this side for a reason. … There should be nothing passive about being a defensive player.”

Former NFL wide receiver turned television personality Nate Burleson disagreed with those opinions, notably Clark’s.

RC, you know I love you like a brother so I mean this with all due respect… You are wrong on this one fam. The reason there is outrage about that hit on Chubb isn't about the game or it's fans getting soft. The problem is Minkah who is a veteran DB torpedoed at Chubbs leg while… https://t.co/H9KzXZmNpD

— Nathaniel E Burleson (@nateburleson) September 19, 2023

I’ve disagreed with Clark on many topics over the years — while he was a player and since he joined ESPN. But he is 100% right on this debate, and Burleson is wrong.

We have already seen the act of tackling over-legislated to a ridiculous degree. The shrinking target zone for defensive players to hit at high rates of speed is unmanageable as it is. Now Burleson and others are asking a defensive player (while running as fast as he can) to:

• Make sure his hit is aimed mid-thigh and not at the knee or below, while that 235-pound back is churning his legs at maximum effort.

• Make a judgment as to whether or not his teammate is capable of tackling that ball carrier without his assistance at full force.

• Or — in the case of a potential open-field hit when the ball carrier isn’t already engaged with a teammate — make those adjustments against an opponent who isn’t “defenseless” like a quarterback, pass-catcher or kicker but rather one who is traveling at a high rate of speed with significant body mass, looking to deliver a blow himself.

That’s stupid. It’s flat-out stupid. Fitzpatrick’s hit wasn’t dirty, nor was it illegal. This kind of saber rattling from parochial fans and former players like Burleson does nothing but feed the Twitter mob who advance such dialogue in an effort to seek likes and retweets from the soapbox of “Look at how much I care! Look at how high-minded I am! I am an ombudsman for player safety!”

Then the lawsuit-conscious NFL breaks into a cold sweat and implements another round of rule changes to make playing defense even more impossible of a challenge. It’s the same argument that we were having about the “hip-drop” tackle a few months ago.

More sports

• Mike Tomlin: Steelers 'feel good' about Minkah Fitzpatrick's status following hospital trip for chest injury
• Mark Madden: Blaming Matt Canada is easier, but Kenny Pickett’s failings far more disappointing for Steelers
• 5 things we learned: Larry Ogunjobi steps up for Steelers to help replace Cam Heyward

There’s a difference between legislating violence out of the game and legislating injury out of the game. One thing is commendable. The other is impossible.

And as Clark and Taylor implied, sometimes excessive attempts to over-manage blows to the head are now resulting in even more risk to ball carriers because would-be tacklers are so paranoid about getting a flag for helmet contact that they feel leg-diving is the only safe alternative.

But it isn’t safe, as Chubb found out. And, frankly, as Fitzpatrick found out. He was momentarily injured during the contact as well. That was a riskier play for his body too.

Chubb is done for the year, and that stinks. He is a gifted player and, by accounts from the Steelers locker room, a classy competitor. But to affix claims of intent to injure to Fitzpatrick’s tackle is a reckless act in its own right.

Then again, what would Browns fans know about anyone doing anything reckless with intent to injure on a football field? This is probably their first exposure to any such discussion, right?

WHAT IS GOING ON! Myles Garret struck Mason Rudolph with his own helmet! #NFL #TNF #Mylesgarret #masonrudolph #browns #steelers pic.twitter.com/ZIyudI4kyl

— League Look (@LeagueLook) November 15, 2019

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter recap Mike Tomlin’s press conference after the Steelers win over Cleveland and in advance of their game Sunday night in Las Vegas.