Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns after eight seasons with the team.
The 29-year-old’s request comes after Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry told reporters that Garrett would not be traded this offseason.
In a statement posted on Monday, Garrett said his desire to win a Super Bowl was behind his wish. The Browns had the joint-worst record in the league over the 2024 season, finishing at 3-14.
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“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” Garrett’s statement said.
“My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent.
“The goal was never to go from Cleveland to [the Hall of Fame in] Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
“With that in mind, I have a requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
Myles Garrett has been to the playoffs only twice in his eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns
Garrett has two years remaining on the five-year, $125m extension he signed with Cleveland in 2020.
Browns GM Berry said last week: “We feel really good about Myles, obviously, as a big piece of our future.
“We’re looking forward to him being on the field. Like I said in my press conference, we envision him going from Cleveland to Canton when his career is over.”
Garrett is coming off his seventh-straight double-digit sack season, including four in a row with 14 or more, as he became the fastest player in NFL history to 100 sacks.
He has earned five-straight Pro Bowl nods, has been named first-team All-Pro four times and is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and is again a finalist for the 2024 season.
Asked if he’d turn down an offer that included two first-round draft picks for Garrett, Berry answered: “Correct. You can put that on the record.”
The Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday February 9, live on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event from 10pm ahead of kickoff at 11.30pm; Tom Brady features on commentary while Kendrick Lamar headlines the half-time show
