Who is Myles Garrett?

Early Life and Athletic Foundations

Born on December 29, 1995, in Arlington, Texas, Myles Garrett emerged early as a standout athlete. His physical gifts were evident in high school, where he developed into a versatile football force with rare size, speed, and strength. These traits earned him a coveted spot at Texas A&M University, where his trajectory toward NFL stardom accelerated rapidly. At Texas A&M, Garrett became one of the most feared defensive ends in college football, posting eye‑catching sack totals and earning All‑America recognition. His prowess culminated in being widely touted as a future No. 1 overall draft pick – a forecast that would prove accurate and prescient.

NFL Breakthrough: Cleveland’s Defensive Cornerstone

In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Garrett with the first overall pick, signaling their intention to build around his rare defensive potential. From his rookie campaign onward, it was clear Garrett wasn’t merely a top prospect — he was a foundational cornerstone for the franchise’s defense. Despite the Browns’ organizational struggles during his early seasons, Garrett continued to elevate his game, drawing league‑wide attention with his blend of power, technique, and relentless pursuit of quarterbacks.

Year after year, Garrett racked up sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback pressures, steadily shaping his reputation as one of the game’s premier edge rushers. He became a perennial Pro Bowl selection and earned multiple All‑Pro honors, cementing his status not just as a franchise leader but as a generational talent in his own right.

Contract Extension and Franchise Commitment

After proving his value on the field, Garrett solidified his long‑term future with the Browns. In March 2025, he signed a four‑year, $160 million contract extension — one of the richest defensive agreements in NFL history at the time. The deal underscored the Browns’ commitment to building around Garrett’s extraordinary defensive talent and leadership, while also placing him among the financial elite of all defensive players in professional football.

2025: The Season of NFL History

Though the Browns’ 2025 season was tumultuous and ultimately disappointing from a team perspective, Garrett’s individual performance transcended any narrative about the franchise’s win‑loss record. In what will go down as one of the most dominant defensive campaigns in NFL history, Garrett obliterated expectations and record books alike.

Record-Breaking Sack Pursuit

Garrett’s 2025 season was highlighted by a relentless chase of the league’s single‑season sack record. Throughout the year, he terrorized offenses with consistent pressure and sack production, repeatedly tipped off opposing quarterbacks and changing the dynamics of games.

In Week 8 against the New England Patriots, he recorded five sacks in a single game — the most by any NFL player that season. His momentum never waned.

In the regular‑season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, Garrett recorded his 23rd sack, officially breaking the longstanding single‑season sack record previously held jointly by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021). This historic achievement cemented his place among the greatest defensive performances in league history.

Statistical Mastery and Defensive Dominance

Beyond sacks, Garrett excelled in all facets of defensive play. He led the league with 33 tackles for loss, posted 39 quarterback hits, totaled 60 tackles, and forced three fumbles. These numbers illustrate a player operating at peak performance — not merely chasing one statistic, but impacting every part of the defense.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Garrett’s 2025 season was the frequency with which he was double‑ and triple‑teamed, yet still found ways to influence games. This is a hallmark of all‑time defensive greats: even when opponents scheme specifically to neutralize them, they continue to impact the flow of games and force offenses into uncomfortable decisions.

Accolades and Recognition

For his transcendent performance, Garrett received a cascade of honors and awards following the 2025 season. Most prominently, he was unanimously named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year — a rare achievement that underscored his league‑wide dominance. This marked his second Defensive Player of the Year award, having also won in 2023.

Garrett was also named a First‑Team All‑Pro, selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, and earned the Pro Football Focus Dwight Stephenson Award, given to the best overall player in the NFL — a rare honor for any defensive player. Beyond these NFL accolades, Garrett was recognized externally as the Professional Athlete of the Year at the Great Cleveland Sports Awards, showcasing his impact beyond just football.

Legacy in the Record Books

By the end of the 2025 season, Garrett had achieved several historic milestones:

NFL Single‑Season Sack Record (23 sacks)
First player to record 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons
Records for sacks by a player before age 30
One of the most consistently high‑graded defenders in the PFF era

These feats position Garrett not just as an elite player of his generation, but as one of the most influential defensive forces the league has ever seen. His career arc continues to draw comparisons to Hall of Fame legends, and his statistical output places him in discussions about the greatest edge rushers in NFL history.

The Browns’ 2025 Team Context

It’s worth noting that while Garrett’s individual brilliance was extraordinary, the Cleveland Browns finished the season with a disappointing record, struggling on offense and failing to put together enough wins. This juxtaposition highlights one of football’s great ironies — a transcendent individual performance can still co‑exist with a franchise’s broader struggles. Garrett’s excellence, however, brought national attention and emotional investment to a franchise yearning for sustained success.

Despite the lack of team success, his performances week in and week out provided hope for Browns fans and a blueprint for how the defense could serve as a cornerstone for future competitiveness.

Offseason and 2026 Developments

As the calendar turned to 2026, Garrett’s narrative continued beyond football statistics.

2026 Winter Olympics and Personal Life

In early 2026, Garrett made headlines off the football field through his supportive presence at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. He traveled overseas to support his girlfriend, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, as she pursued another gold medal in the women’s halfpipe. The couple’s public relationship, first revealed in late 2025, has captured significant fan interest and painted a fuller picture of Garrett as both an elite athlete and a devoted partner.

The Olympics spotlighted Garrett’s personal side — his encouragement of Kim, his emotional investment in her competition, and his willingness to cheer from the sidelines just as loudly as he does from the football field. This human dimension added depth to Garrett’s public persona and broadened his appeal beyond just NFL fans.

Even amid his own historic NFL accolades — including the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2026 — Garrett prioritized celebrating Kim’s accomplishments at the Games, signaling a balance between personal fulfillment and professional excellence.

Character and Leadership

Beyond raw statistics and awards, one of Garrett’s most defining traits is leadership. Teammates, coaches, and analysts consistently praise his competitive intensity, work ethic, and team‑first mentality. His peers have voted him Defensive Player of the Year through The Sporting News, and coaches across the league have openly acknowledged the challenges offenses face when preparing for his presence on the field.

Garrett has also emerged as a mentor figure within the Browns’ locker room, helping younger defenders navigate the pressures of professional football. His influence extends beyond X‑and‑O execution; it encompasses preparation, film study discipline, and an emotional resilience that sets standards for teammates.

A Future Hall of Famer in Progress

Myles Garrett’s accumulation of records, honors, and historical significance makes him a likely future candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His sustained dominance, especially in a position as physically demanding as defensive end, distinguishes him from players who merely enjoy peak seasons. Garrett’s peak stretches across multiple years, marked by consistency, disruption, and record‑breaking achievements.