The biggest reason fans of the Los Angeles Rams are hotly anticipating the start of the 2026 NFL season is the playmakers that make up the franchise’s offense and defense.
The figureheads of those units, MVP Matthew Stafford and Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, were two of the four nominees for the 2026 ESPYS Best NFL Player, joining New England Patriots QB Drake Maye and Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Despite Smith-Njigba’s Offensive Player of the Year win and Maye being one vote away from winning the MVP, it was Garrett who brought home the honor after recording a record-setting mark for single-season sacks at 23, beating out Stafford, as well.
Garrett now joins a loaded defense on a team that knows how to build a lead. If Garrett mimics his 2025 efforts in a Rams’ uniform, he’s likely to exceed the record he set with 23 sacks last year. However, he’s in a division filled with productive offenses guided by brilliant minds, creating one of the more intriguing chess matches of 2026.
Last season in Cleveland, he had an NFL-record 23 sacks and led the league with 33 tackles for a loss, the second straight year he’s finished first in that category. He had a historic 2025 season, and as impressive as Stafford’s MVP year was, voters favored Garrett for this award.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Myles Garrett beats out Matthew Stafford, others for Best NFL Player ESPY
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
