BEREA — One of the biggest trades in Cleveland sports history, let alone Browns history, ended Myles Garrett’s nine-year stay with the team that took him No. 1 overall in 2017.
Garrett’s time with the Browns is the foundation upon which his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction will ultimately be built. The accolades he accumulated during that time make him a first-ballot selection, even before he does whatever he does with the Los Angeles Rams.
There were a lot of things, though, that happened between draft night in 2017 and June 1, when Garrett was sent to the Rams in exchange for defensive end Jared Verse and three draft picks — a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder.
As the one-week anniversary of the trade comes up, here’s a look back at some of the memorable moments, good and bad, during Garrett’s nine-year Cleveland career.
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April 27, 2017: Myles Garrett selected No. 1 overall by Cleveland Browns
Despite some tepid pre-draft chatter about Mitchell Trubisky or Deshaun Watson, the Browns made the pick that most people had long expected them to make by taking Garrett out of Texas A&M University.
May 18, 2017: Myles Garrett signs 1st contract with Cleveland Browns
Garrett signed his rookie contract, a four-year deal (with a fifth-year option) worth $30.4 million, including a $20.25 million signing bonus. The deal also included offset language.
Sept. 6. 2017: Myles Garrett suffers high-ankle sprain, misses 4 games
The minicamp injury didn’t cost Garrett any time. However, a high-ankle sprain he suffered in practice just days before the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers did end up costing him the first four games of the season.
Oct. 8, 2017: Myles Garrett makes Cleveland Browns debut against New York Jets
Garrett finally made his Browns debut in a 17-14 loss to the New York Jets in Cleveland. He had two sacks of Josh McCown in 19 defensive snaps in the game.
Oct. 29, 2017: Myles Garrett misses game with concussion
Garrett missed the Browns game against the Minnesota Vikings in London with a concussion.
Sept. 9, 2018: Myles Garrett meets Ben Roethlisberger for the 1st time, draws erroneous roughing penalty
Garrett’s rookie season ended with him not facing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He made up for it in the 2018 season opener with two sacks, five solo tackles, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed. There was also a third-down roughing the passer penalty in the second quarter that allowed Pittsburgh to score its first touchdown, although the NFL later acknowledged the penalty was erroneously called because Garrett didn’t land on the Steelers quarterback with all of his body weight.
Sept. 21, 2019: Myles Garrett shines but gets fined for debut of 2nd season
Garrett made an impressive start to his second season in the league, recording five combined sacks, seven tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits in a loss to the Tennessee Titans and a win at the New York Jets. However, Garrett was also fined a combined $52,639 for three penalties in those two games. Those penalties were for a face mask hit on the Titans’ Delanie Walker and two roughing the passer penalties on Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian, the second of which resulted in Siemian injuring his ankle and putting him on injured reserve.
Nov. 14, 2019: Myles Garrett hits Steelers QB Mason Rudolph in the head with the QB’s helmet
Garrett’s 2019 season ended with eight seconds remaining in a 21-7 win over the Steelers in Cleveland on “Thursday Night Football,” all because he took Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hit the quarterback on the head with it. On third-and-29 at the Steelers 17-yard line, Garrett wrapped up Rudolph and took him down after the QB threw a short pass and then tried to pull Garrett’s helmet off, pushed his right foot into Garrett’s groin and charged Garrett after both players had risen to their feet. Garrett then struck Rudolph with the helmet he had forcibly removed moments earlier. Garrett was immediately ejected from what remained of the game, but the drama was just beginning. He was fined $45,623, and Rudolph was fined $50,000. Another 33 players were fined $3,000 for entering a fight zone, and the Browns and Steelers organizations were fined $250,000 each.
Nov. 15, 2019: Myles Garrett suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Garrett indefinitely the day after the helmet incident, but at least through the final six games of the 2019 season. He also was not paid during the suspension. It was the second-longest suspension for on-field misconduct in NFL history and the longest for a single incident.
Nov. 20, 2019: Myles Garrett, at appeal hearing, accuses Mason Rudolph of using racial slur in helmet incident
Garrett accused Rudolph of calling him a racial slur just before they fought late in the Week 11 game. Garrett made the accusation while appealing the indefinite suspension he received from the NFL for ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and using it to strike him atop the head. Rudolph denied the racial slur allegation. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Beacon Journal at the time the league “looked into” Garrett’s allegation “and found no such evidence” Rudolph had used a racial slur.
Nov. 21, 2019: Myles Garrett’s indefinite suspension upheld on appeal
NFL appeals officer James Thrash upheld the punishment doled out by the NFL to Garrett for ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and swinging it onto Rudolph’s head late in the Browns’ 21-7 win Nov. 14 on “Thursday Night Football.” Garrett had to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell before a decision on his reinstatement.
Feb. 12, 2020: Myles Garrett reinstated by Roger Goodell from NFL suspension
Goodell reinstated Garrett from the indefinite suspension he was given for the helmet incident with Rudolph.
July 15, 2020: Myles Garrett signs 5-year extension with Cleveland Browns
Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the team. The extension was scheduled to run through the 2026 season.
Oct. 4, 2020: Myles Garrett has spectacular homecoming against Cowboys
Garrett returned to his Arlington, Texas, home by sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice, including a strip sack, in the 49–38 Week 4 win. His performance earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Nov. 20, 2020: Myles Garrett placed on reserve/COVID list, misses game vs. Eagles, at Jaguars
Garrett missed the Browns’ Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and a Week 12 game at the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 season because of COVID.
Jan. 10, 2021: Myles Garrett plays in 1st career playoff game, gets only playoff win at Steelers
The Browns qualified for the playoffs as an AFC wild card team in the 2020 season. Garrett had one tackle in their 48-37 upset of the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the wild-card round — the Browns’ only win in Pittsburgh since 2003 and only playoff win since Jan. 1, 1995.
Jan. 17, 2021: Myles Garrett gets only career playoff sack in loss at Chiefs
Garrett’s only career playoff sack to date came in a divisional-round loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City. With 2:33 remaining, he sacked Chad Henne, playing in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes, for a 6-yard loss to leave the Chiefs with a third-and-14 situation. Henne, though, ran for 13 yards on a quarterback keeper on third down, and then passed to Tyreek Hill for five yards on fourth-and-1 to get the first down and seal the 22-17 Chiefs win.
Sept. 26, 2021: Myles Garrett sacks Justin Fields to break Cleveland Browns single-game franchise sack record
Garrett sacked Bears quarterback Justin Fields with 10:08 remaining in the fourth quarter to set the single-game franchise sack record with 4.5 sacks. The previous mark of four sacks was set in 2003 by Andre Davis against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nov. 28, 2021: Myles Garrett ties Reggie Camp for Cleveland Browns single-season franchise sack record
Garrett sacked Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with 9:54 remaining in the first quarter in Baltimore to tie Reggie Camp’s single-season franchise record of 14 sacks. Camp set the previous mark in 1984, two years after the NFL made the sack an official statistic.
Dec. 12, 2021: Myles Garrett sets Cleveland Browns single-season franchise sack record with strip-sack TD
Garrett stripped Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley with 58 seconds remaining in the second quarter, then recovered the ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to surpass Reggie Camp as the Browns’ single-season sack leader with 15. It was also his only touchdown in Cleveland.
Sept. 26, 2022: Myles Garrett, passenger injured in one-car accident
Garrett suffered a shoulder sprain and a biceps strain, as well as lacerations, in a one-car accident involving him and a female passenger in Medina County. The Ohio State Highway Patrol cited Garrett for traveling 65 mph in a 45 mph zone in his Porsche 911 Turbo S on State Road near Ridgewood Road.
Oct. 2, 2022: Myles Garrett misses game at Atlanta Falcons due to car accident
Garrett missed the Browns’ Week 4 loss at the Atlanta Falcons because of the lingering effects of the injuries he sustained in the car accident. It was the last game he missed because of injury. He missed the regular-season finale in 2023 at Cincinnati when coach Kevin Stefanski decided to rest his starters for the playoffs.
Oct. 16, 2022: Myles Garrett sets Cleveland Browns official all-time sack record, passing Clay Matthews
Garrett’s first-quarter strip sack of Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe gave him 62.5 for his career, a half-sack past the former official mark held by linebacker Clay Matthews. Matthews had 62 sacks from 1982-93, the time period in which he played that the sack was an official stat.
Jan. 8, 2023: Myles Garrett ties Cleveland Browns single-game franchise sack record against Steelers’ Kenny Pickett
Garrett brought down Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter to give him 16 sacks for the season, matching the record he set a season earlier.
Feb. 5, 2023: Myles Garrett suffers dislocated toe in Pro Bowl Games
Garrett sustained a dislocated toe on his right foot while competing in the Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas. Garrett sustained the injury while competing against the Carolina Panthers’ Brian Burns in the “Gridiron Gauntlet” obstacle course challenge as part of the event. He came up limping after completing a stretch during which he had to climb a series of 7-foot walls, then crawl underneath a low table.
Oct. 22, 2023: Myles Garrett leaps tall buildings in award-winning performance against Colts
Garrett had two sacks, both of which created fumbles, as well as nine tackles and a tackle for loss in a 39-38 come-from-behind win at the Indianapolis Colts. The play of the game, which earned him an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award, was when he blocked Matt Gay’s 60-yard field goal by leaping over the center and right guard at the snap.
Jan. 13, 2024: Myles Garrett plays in 3rd playoff game in AFC wild card loss at Houston Texans
Garrett played in the third playoff game of his career in 45-14 loss at Houston Texans in AFC wild card game. He finished with no sacks, but three combined tackles.
Feb. 8, 2024: Myles Garrett wins 1st NFL Defensive Player of the Year award
Garrett won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Nov. 21, 2024: Myles Garrett posts AFC Defensive Player of the Week-worthy game vs. Steelers
Garrett posted three sacks in the first half against the Steelers’ Russell Wilson, earning him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Dec. 20, 2024: Myles Garrett makes it clear he wants to ‘play meaningful games’
During his normal Friday before the game media availability, Garrett made it clear he’s not interested in a rebuild. He said, “I mean, it’s a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it’s two, three, four years out, I want be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January.”
Dec. 22, 2024: Myles Garrett becomes youngest player to reach 100 career sacks
Garrett joined the 100-sack club with roughly 1:22 remaining in the second quarter when he was successful at getting to Bengals’ Joe Burrow, giving him 100.5 sacks for his career.
Dec. 29, 2024: Myles Garrett becomes only player with at least 14 sacks in 4 consecutive seasons
Garrett sacked Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley twice, giving him 14 sacks for the season, the only player since the NFL made it an official statistic in 1982 to ever reach that total in four consecutive seasons.
Feb. 3, 2025: Myles Garrett goes public with a trade demand
The Monday before the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Garrett went public with his demand to be traded by the Browns.
March 9, 2025: Myles Garrett agrees to 4-year, $160 million extension
Garrett pulled back his trade demand by agreeing to a four-year, $160 million contract extension that included $123 million in guaranteed money and a no-trade clause. The deal, at an average of $40 million, made Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, until Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension a week later.
Oct. 26, 2025: Myles Garrett breaks own Browns franchise single-game sack record against Drake Maye, in AFC Defensive Player of the Week performance
Garrett sacked New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye a franchise single-game record five times in Week 8, breaking his own previous mark of 4.5 set in 2021. Garrett’s fifth sack, an 8-yard loss, came with 11:38 remaining.
Nov. 23, 2025: Myles Garrett ties, breaks own Browns’ franchise single-season sack record against Las Vegas Raiders
Garrett sacked Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith for an 8-yard loss with 11:27 remaining in the fourth quarter to give him 17 sacks for the season, breaking his previous record of 16. Garrett matched his old record of 16 sacks when he got to Smith with 45 seconds remaining in the second quarter. He later added a third sack, which included a forced fumble, with 45 seconds remaining. The three-sack game helped him set an NFL record for most sacks in a five-game span with 14 from Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins through the Raiders game, breaking the old mark of 12.5 set in 2001 by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Garrett was honored for the performance by being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career.
Jan. 4, 2026: Myles Garrett sets single-season NFL sack record against Joe Burrow
With 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter of the season finale in Cincinnati, Garrett beat Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. around the edge and sacked quarterback Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season. That surpassed the previous official record of 22.5 set in 2001 by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and tied in 2021 by Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt.
Feb. 5, 2026: Myles Garrett wins his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award
Garrett was the unanimous selection for his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in three seasons.
June 1, 2026: Myles Garrett traded to Los Angeles Rams for DE Jared Verse, 3 draft picks
The end of the road arrives on the first day of June.
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Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: From being taken No. 1 to trade on June 1, Myles Garrett’s Browns journey
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
