Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, made waves across the league on Monday morning by requesting a trade from the Cleveland Browns in a heartfelt statement.
In the letter shared by NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Garrett expressed his deep connection to the Cleveland community while revealing the difficult decision he had made. He wrote, “As a child, my dream was always centered on winning a Super Bowl, and that ambition drives me now more than ever. My love for Northeast Ohio and the passionate Browns fanbase has made this decision one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. These eight years have helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Garrett continued, saying, “Although I’ve loved calling this city home, my desire to compete and win on the grandest stage won’t allow me to settle. The goal was never about transitioning from Cleveland to Canton; it’s always been about winning a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I’ve requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns.”
Breaking: Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and #Browns star Myles Garrett has requested a trade.
Exclusive statement: pic.twitter.com/LgS5YCeCnP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2025
This announcement comes just days after Browns general manager Andrew Berry stated the organization’s intention to keep Garrett in Cleveland for the long term. In a press conference last week, Berry said, “We’re excited for him to be on the field. As I mentioned earlier in January, we see him going from Cleveland to Canton when his career is over… I think you can expect us to offer him a third contract. We want him to retire here.”
Garrett’s perspective appears to differ, as he referenced Berry’s “Cleveland to Canton” phrase in his own statement, signaling a rift in the organization’s vision for his future.
The 29-year-old defensive standout was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite the Browns’ underwhelming 53-78-1 record during his tenure, Garrett has established himself as one of the league’s elite players. Over the past eight seasons, he’s been named a four-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowler, and earned the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
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