Myles Garrett’s talents have been unquestioned since the Browns selected him No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft out of Texas A&M University. However, never have his talents, production and universal recognition coalesced like it has these last three seasons.
Case in point: The Sporting News on Jan. 29 named Garrett its NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row. It’s the second organization to recognize the Browns defensive end with that honor this season, joining the Pro Football Writers of America.
A third organization, the Associated Press, appears on the cusp of doing it for the second time in three seasons at the NFL Honors event Feb. 5. That NFL Defensive Player of the Year award is the one recognized by many, specifically the players themselves, as the preeminent one.
Those three seasons, which have included three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections for the first time in Garrett’s career, coincide with Jim Schwartz’s time as defensive coordinator for the Browns. Garrett has recorded 51 sacks in that span, including an NFL single-season record 23 in the 2025 season, along with an NFL-leading 72 tackles for loss, with 33 in 2025 alone.
“I know it’s tough. I wish we could figure it all out a little bit sooner, but to play for Jim has been an honor and a privilege,” Garrett said of Schwartz on Dec. 19, before the Browns’ Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. “He’s a great coach. He’s a great man of character and a great leader. So I just appreciate the fact that I’ve been coached by him and it has helped elevate my game and take it to the heights we see now.”
Schwartz was one of three finalists to replace Kevin Stefanski as head coach, which former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken was hired for Jan. 28. According to reports, Schwartz was “visibly upset” when given the news, and “said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back.”
Garrett was one of the Browns’ defensive players who spoke in support of Schwartz as a potential head coach, albeit before Stefanski was fired.
“Again, I can’t see into the future,” Garrett said Jan. 2, before the finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. “I don’t know what it would be like. I know it’s be regimented and probably very efficient. That’s how he runs it on defense, so I think those two things will hold true. But how it would come out to results on the field, that’s always determined by us. And sometimes things we can’t control, like injuries and the like.”
The only thing from Garrett in the hours since the hiring was a story on his Instagram account around 10 p.m. Jan. 28. The caption-less picture shows a worker sitting hunched over on a bench outside of a restaurant, which many have translated to mean he’s tired.
#Browns Myles Garrett with a post… pic.twitter.com/F6NMeygb2c
— Alisson Toro-Lagos 🇨🇱 (@atlTVnews) January 29, 2026
Schwartz is under contract through the 2026 season. If the defensive coordinator wanted to leave for another team, it would, at the minimum, require the Browns’ permission.
Monken, who’s only a few months younger than Schwartz, has reportedly been open to working with the defensive coordinator in Cleveland. However, that would take a 180-degree change in Schwartz’s current stance.
Garrett spoke of the future Jan. 2 when he was asked about success if Stefanski was retained.
“I don’t know what the future holds, whether it’s with him or anything else,” Garrett said. “I’m going to look forward to playing under whoever it is. Be happy to be here and being a Brown regardless.”
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