CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett’s week began without a shoutout from the legendary Lawrence Taylor, and on Wednesday, he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
He won the award after notching three of the Browns’ 10 sacks in their 24-10 victory over the Raiders Sunday in Las Vegas.
Garrett also recorded five tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He led all NFL players in Week 12 in sacks and forced fumbles. During the contest, he set the Browns franchise record with 18 sacks, beating his previous mark of 16, set in 2021 and 2022. The Browns defense recorded 10 sacks, the most of any NFL team this season and the second-most by a Browns team in a game. Garrett leads the NFL this season in sacks (18) and tackles for a loss (26).
This is the fifth career weekly league award for Garrett and first since Week 12 in 2024. He joins K Andre Szmyt (AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 3) and S Grant Delpit (AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 7) as the third Browns player to be named AFC Player of the Week this season.
He also set the NFL record with 14 sacks in five games.
“Ton of respect for how this dude goes about his business…” Taylor posted on X Sunday. “He’s been doing it on another level for a long time now… there’s only so many who truly alter gameplans and keep the other side up @ night
Keep doing your thing Myles !!!!”
On Sunday, Garrett joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (19 sacks) and Mark Gastineau (17.5) as the only players since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 17 sacks through their first 11 games of a season.
He ranks first in the NFL with 120.5 sacks since entering the league in 2017, and he’s the third player since 1982 with at least 16 sacks in three career seasons, joining J.J. Watt (four seasons) and White (four).
Garrett’s 18 sacks this season surpasses Gastineau (17.5 sacks) for the second-most sacks in a player’s first 11 games of a season since 1982, trailing only White (19), and is the third player since 1982 with at least 16 sacks in three career seasons, joining J.J. Watt (four seasons) and White (four).
“Three sacks, it’s a down game for him,” Browns left guard Joel Bitonio joked, “so he’s doing alright.”
With back-to-back home games coming up against the 49ers and Titans, Garrett could set the coveted single-season record over the next couple of weeks. The Browns also play four out of their next five at home, meaning there’s a good chance he’ll set it again the home crowd.
“Chasing Mike, chasing greatness,” Garrett said. “If God wills it, I’ll go get it hopefully sooner rather than later. I don’t try to delay this thing.”
He has one wish for the record.
“I want it to come in a win,” he said. “I want to have a chance to play some games in January and in February, so we’ve got to win out.”
While the quarterbacks and the records fall, Garrett really wants only one thing: that elusive trip to the Super Bowl. With the Browns at 3-8, he’s still gunning for the playoffs.
“I never doubted it was possible,” he said. “Never a moment. I think the last thing you can give up in your life and in sports is hope. So I have hope for this season, hope for this next game. I keep my head held high and focus on what’s in front of me. And what’s next is the 49ers, I believe. So I’ll just keep on working hard, study them and hope everything works in our favor, but we’ve got to take care of business.”
With the best defensive player in the NFL, they at least have a chance.
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