In locker rooms around the NHL, it’s common to see a the team’s logo printed on the carpet. It’s also an understood etiquette for hockey players to avoid stepping on the logo. To do so is a sign of disrespect.
Well, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is apparently embracing the hockey player mentality because he went out of his way to protect the Steelers logo on the locker room floor.
In a recent feature from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, she detailed how Fitzpatrick got tired of seeing footprints on the white logo. And rather than making some sort of announcement about the logo, he went to the team’s equipment staff, had stanchions ordered and roped off the logo himself.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was tired of seeing the footprints on the Steelers’ locker room logo, so he did something about it.
Without fanfare, he added stanchions to rope it off.
“Something as small as keeping our logo clean, it's simple, but it means a lot.”https://t.co/tz8FaSmWs3 pic.twitter.com/LYqZMkT8cS
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 7, 2023
Of course, it would have been easier for the Steelers to not have the logo on the floor to begin with. But Fitzpatrick wanted to set an example for the whole team about taking pride in being a member of the Steelers. He said via ESPN:
“I’m very, very big on the details. I think that something as small as keeping our logo clean, it’s simple, but it means a lot at the end of the day.”
That is leadership, technically. However, it didn’t stop fans from making jokes about a roped-off logo. It’s on the floor after all. People are going to walk on it.
This was how Twitter reacted
here's a suggestion, don't put it on the floor https://t.co/pivkATHKVG
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 7, 2023
Minkah Fitzpatrick when someone runs on the Steelers logo on the field and he can’t do anything about it https://t.co/2UkCRuC5dG pic.twitter.com/jPnmRos5V6
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) September 7, 2023
come on man.
they put a logo on the floor
that's supposed to happen https://t.co/GrhQ43ziMU
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) September 7, 2023
…so take it off the ground and paint it on the wall. This is way too corny. https://t.co/NabSijzX48
— Bukayo Saka Liker (@3k_) September 7, 2023
Translation: Minkah Fitzpatrick issues 31 NFL teams an open invitation to disrespect the Steelers’ midfield logo until further notice.#FOOTBALLISBACK https://t.co/o9y4tBXtOY
— GG (@GarryGates) September 7, 2023
Branding tip i learned early in my career from my big sis, @jccarcamo. Never put your logo on the ground. People will walk on it.
Always keep it eye level or above. https://t.co/edXSQi3SiA
— Teeth Sweat (@dabnisbrickey_) September 7, 2023
Steelers too worried about carpet in their locker room.
49ers by 17. https://t.co/sahQa1ljBp
— Andrew Pasquini (@pasquiniandrew) September 7, 2023
Maybe don't put a giant logo in the middle of the floor then, yeah? https://t.co/n1KtEEX2uS
— Regular Everyday Normal Guy (@DiaIUpModem) September 7, 2023
If we feel this way, then why do we continue to put logos on the floor? https://t.co/GvlSB96QZe
— Jonathan Von Tobel (@meJVT) September 7, 2023