Myles Garrett had always envisioned himself as a lifelong member of the Browns, but his recent trade request—made public on Monday—reveals just how much his stance has changed. For eight seasons, he remained professional despite playing on losing teams, but his decision to go public with his frustrations suggests he reached a breaking point with general manager Andrew Berry.
Now, at 29 years old, the All-Pro pass rusher is eager to compete for a Super Bowl, recognizing that time is running out. He no longer wants to play for a team still struggling to find its starting quarterback for 2025 but instead seeks a franchise with a clear vision for success. However, this wasn’t always his perspective.
As recently as last year, Garrett appeared fully committed to winning a championship in Cleveland. A resurfaced clip from the Up & Adams show on FanDuel TV shows him telling NFL reporter Kay Adams that his definition of success was “winning it all.” He expressed a desire to celebrate a championship with the city of Cleveland, hoping the 2023 team would be the one to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Lake Erie.
At the time, his optimism was understandable. The Browns had finished the regular season 11-7, thanks in part to strong performances from Joe Flacco, and had a dominant defense with a solid running game. They only needed consistent quarterback play to be true contenders. However, things quickly fell apart.
Following their Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, the Browns struggled to build on their success. Their elite defense couldn’t carry the team alone, and instability at quarterback—cycling through four different starters—led to a disastrous 3-14 season.
Now, Cleveland fans may face the consequences of the team’s failure to capitalize on 2023, as Garrett appears poised to leave for a true contender rather than waiting for one to be built around him.
