Myles Garrett spent nine seasons in Cleveland, giving the Browns everything he had. Now he’s taking his talents to the West Coast, and the way he said goodbye said a lot about what those years meant to him.
The Los Angeles Rams landed the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns, finalizing the deal on June 1, a date that carries weight from a salary-cap accounting standpoint. To get Garrett, the Rams sent Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round selection and a 2029 third-round pick to Cleveland.
Garrett is coming off one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NFL history, recording 23 sacks to set a new single-season record. Earlier this year, he also agreed to revised contract terms that shifted option bonus payments from March into late summer.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Shortly after the trade was made official, Garrett took to social media with a farewell message to Browns fans that was hard to read without feeling the weight of it.
“Nine years. It’s hard to put into words what that really means when so much of your life has been shaped in one place, around one team, and with one community behind you,” Garrett wrote. “From my very first play, you embraced me, and I wanted to help bring winning back to a city whose loyalty, resilience, and belief never wavered. What I didn’t fully understand then was how much this city would shape me.”
— Myles Garrett (@Flash_Garrett) June 2, 2026
Myles Garrett Thanks Cleveland Browns Fans and Organization
Garrett made clear that Cleveland shaped him well beyond football. The city gave him toughness and perspective, and through injuries, rough seasons, and high expectations, he said the support from the fan base never went unnoticed. He also made a point to thank the Dawg Pound specifically for standing behind him and his family from day one.
“Loving you is easy, leaving you is the hard part,” Garrett added. “Thank you for nine unforgettable years.”
He also extended his gratitude to the Haslam family, general manager Andrew Berry, teammates, coaches, the training staff, and everyone inside the Browns organization.
Now, Garrett heads to a Rams team that has made a habit of going all in. Los Angeles has built its roster over the years by trading future assets for proven star power, bringing in names like Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford, Von Miller and Trent McDuffie, with the McDuffie deal coming earlier this offseason.
Adding the best defensive player in football fits exactly that mold. The Rams aren’t rebuilding. They’re making another Super Bowl run.
Related: Myles Garrett vs Jared Verse Stats: Analyzing the Blockbuster Browns-Rams Trade