Myles Garrett is set to communicate a clear message to Cleveland Browns’ new head coach Todd Monken when they finally meet: winning remains his top priority. Following a record-breaking 2023 season, Garrett’s commitment to success fuels his focus on taking the Browns beyond past disappointments and into championship contention.
Last season, the Browns struggled to a 5-12 record and missed the playoffs once again, while Garrett delivered a historic performance by setting an NFL single-season sack record at 23 and securing his second Defensive Player of the Year award. Despite his individual accolades, Garrett’s eyes remain fixed on a greater goal—winning a Super Bowl. That goal motivated his previous trade request to join a contender, but he ultimately signed a $160 million contract extension, keeping him with Cleveland through 2030.
Garrett Prepares to Align Priorities with New Head Coach
With the introduction of Todd Monken as the Browns’ new head coach following Kevin Stefanski’s departure, Garrett intends to solidify his winning mindset with the team’s leadership. Although they have yet to speak, Garrett highlighted the importance of prioritizing victory over personal achievements.
“I haven’t had any conversations yet (with Monken). I’ll be going back in a couple of weeks, and I plan to hash all that out when I get there,”
Garrett told DJ Siddiqi of Casino Guru News.
“But as far as the drive to win, that’s paramount. That’s always been bigger than any individual record for me or accomplishment. That’s what I try to instill into my guys on the team, especially on defense. Now as much as we want to get sacks, we want to make plays. We’ve got to do whatever it takes to win.”
New Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg Takes Charge
The Browns defense will also be under new oversight as veteran coach Jim Schwartz steps down after being overlooked for the head coaching position. Mike Rutenberg, formerly the Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator with 14 years of NFL coaching experience, has been hired to fill the role. The Browns expect continuity rather than a major transformation on defense after a strong performance last season, where they limited opponents to 283.6 yards and 22.3 points per game.
Coach Monken spoke about Rutenberg’s fit within the defensive scheme, noting nuances between his style and that of his predecessor.
“He’d been in a similar system, but not the exact system because Jim (Schwartz) was unique,”
Monken explained.
“They can say attacking style, but then there’s attacking style, which is what they’ve done here up front. And I think that background of being a four-down attacking style, but not exact, (and) to add some things that they had done before that I thought would mesh really well with the current staff, was a big part of that. And I thought his energy, his ability to teach, his juice, I mean, it popped. It was what I was looking for.”
Garrett’s Commitment Tested Amid Team Uncertainty
Despite Garrett’s clear desire to win, the Browns remain distant from contender status, a situation compounded by extensive coaching changes. Reports have surfaced speculating about Garrett’s future with the team, given his close relationship with Schwartz and the disruptive transitions in management.
However, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam expressed strong confidence in Garrett’s ongoing dedication to the franchise.
“I love Myles, okay? I haven’t talked to him since the day after the season, but I’m highly confident Myles will come in here and break the sack record again and be the Defensive Player (of the Year),”
Haslam stated.
Garrett himself reaffirmed his loyalty, emphasizing his readiness to stay as long as the organization is equally committed to winning.
“I’m committed to winning, and long as the team organization are doing so and they’re committed to that same thing, then I’m all on board,”
Garrett said.
“But if we’re thinking anything other than winning — tanking or rebuilding, that’s not me.”
Looking forward, the Browns hold two valuable draft selections at picks No. 6 and No. 24, which could be instrumental in strengthening the roster to match Garrett’s championship aspirations. How the Browns leverage these assets and whether they can align their strategies with Garrett’s winning priorities will be critical to their future outlook.
