One year after publicly expressing his wish to be traded from the Cleveland Browns, star pass-rusher Myles Garrett has shifted his tone, emphasizing the team’s strengths. Despite earlier frustrations over the Browns’ inconsistent performance and management turmoil, Garrett recently praised the organization, teammates, and coaches during his acceptance speech as the NFL’s AP Defensive Player of the Year.
From Trade Demand to Commitment: Garrett’s Changing Perspective
Last year, Garrett openly voiced his desire to join a winning franchise during a series of Super Bowl media appearances, putting pressure on the Browns’ management. At that time, his frustration was understandable: drafted first overall in 2017, he endured a winless rookie season and a revolving door of four head coaches in as many years. While the team improved under Kevin Stefanski, making the playoffs twice, recent seasons have seen regression with just eight wins, contributing to growing tension between Garrett and the organization.
The Browns managed to retain Garrett by agreeing to an unprecedented $160 million contract over four years. Still, questions remained about his commitment following the controversial handling of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who expressed disappointment after missing out on the head coach position to Todd Monken and signaled a potential departure.
Myles Garrett Publicly Endorses Browns’ Culture
On Thursday, Garrett dispelled rumors of renewed trade demands by acknowledging the collective effort behind his success. Awarded the league’s top defensive honor unanimously, he took the moment to credit his teammates and the organization for enabling his achievements.
This doesn’t just start with me, Garrett said. “It starts with great teammates, great organization, great coaches for being able to put us in position. I’m thankful for every single one of my teammates that helped get me up here. It’s not possible without them, their blood, their sweat, their tears, everything that we went through, I’m appreciative of that fellas.
Garrett further expressed gratitude to those supporting him beyond the field, including his personal team and family.
Y’all have taken care of me, y’all have supported me, y’all have kept me up when I have been down, Garrett said.
Y’all have been timeless with all the effort y’all put in. Just like a great watch, a great team is timeless. I’m very appreciative of y’all. And my parents, AG, LG, I couldn’t do it without you all. Y’all the very best in the world.
Uncertainty Surrounding Jim Schwartz’s Future
Despite Garrett’s praise, the Browns’ internal challenges remain an unsettled issue, particularly concerning defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Schwartz’s dissatisfaction after not being promoted to head coach and rumors of his exit generate speculation about the team’s stability.
Garrett’s remarkable performance—a record-breaking 23 sacks in 2025 and career highs in solo tackles and tackles for loss—occurred under Schwartz’s guidance. The defensive coordinator’s impact on Garrett’s development and the overall defense cannot be overstated, fueling concerns that his departure would affect the Browns’ progress.
Should Schwartz leave, conversations about Garrett’s future with the Browns could intensify once more. For now, however, Garrett’s remarks highlighting the Browns as “a great organization” stand as a strong statement of his current loyalty and optimism.
What This Means for the Browns Going Forward
Myles Garrett’s recent endorsement signals a hopeful moment for Cleveland’s franchise, suggesting improved cohesion between its star player and the team. While the future of key staff like Jim Schwartz is uncertain, Garrett’s appreciation of the organization and teammates could inspire a more focused drive toward success. The Browns appear determined to build on recent progress, aiming to convert potential into tangible playoff achievements in the seasons ahead.
