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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns rushes Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
For all that has not gone right in this bizarre Cleveland Browns season, star pass-rusher Myles Garrett stands out as the one piece that has gone even better than expected. And considering Garrett is the highest paid defensive player in history and a six-time All-Pro, there were very high expectations for Garrett here in 2025.
This week, after forcing two fumbles and recording three sacks in the 24-10 win over the Raiders on Sunday, Garrett finally was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week–amazingly, for the first time this season. Garrett not only leads the NFL in sacks with 18.0, he has put major distance between himself and No. 2 on the list, Brian Burns of the Giants (13.0).
Garrett has sacks in five straight games, and has been so disruptive in that span that his total from those five games–14.0–would be enough to lead the NFL. He is just 4.5 sacks away from the all-time record, held by Michael Strahan, and is all but assured of breaking it with six games to play.
Myles Garrett Dominating 2 Ways
Garrett, not surprisingly, ranks No. 1 in the NFL at Pro Football Focus for pass-rushing, with a grade of 93.5, ahead of No. 2 on the list, Micah Parsons of the Packers. Parsons has long been among the best pass-rushers in the league, but he’s never been considered a great run stopper. His grade there is just 64.7, which is 43rd in the NFL.
Garrett’s run-stopping grade is 85.5, which is No. 2 in the NFL. Only Greg Rousseau, at 86.5, is better. No player in the NFL, by PFF’s metrics, grades out as an 80.0 against the run in pass-rushing. Garrett is 85.0-plus on both counts.
Browns Appreciate Myles Garrett Run D
That’s why, when coach Kevin Stefanski is asked about Garrett, he always brings up his run defense. The best pass-rushers in the NFL are mostly one-trick ponies–they get after the cornerback and just try to hold their own against the rush. Garrett gets after the quarterback and smothers the run.
“I mean they could hand that to him every week as far as I’m concerned. You know, we’ve talked at length about Myles, and deservedly so,” Stefanski said. “And the thing I would point out, and I keep saying it and I hope someone’s pointing it out, but just the run defense. Probably gets, not probably – definitely gets less of the attention.
“But he’s a well-rounded player. He’s an elite player, but this is an elite, well-rounded player. It’s not like he’s just rushing the passer; he’s playing the run, he’s doing anything and everything to help this team.”
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Getty ImagesBrowns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Browns Wasting Historic Season
The sad irony of all this, though, is that Garrett is having one of the best defensive seasons in NFL history for a Browns team that is 3-8. Garrett said earlier this month, he’d gladly swap out the sacks and his chance for the record to be better positioned in the standings.
“However, many I can get on the way to getting a win that’s more or less in the record. It doesn’t matter to me,” Garrett said. “Like I said, I would trade all the ones I have back against the Patriots to have a win. I don’t want to say that to be ungrateful, because I was blessed to get that many, but it’s just, it’s not that deep to me.
“I want to go out there and have a good game. I feel like that’s what I can do. That’s what they brought me here for, and I feel like that’s a way in which we can win. You know, me going in and taking over. So, all things come to fruition, and some of my personal goals happened, that’s great. But now I want to go and continue to play after January. That’s the biggest goal.”