As DE Myles Garrett broke free from a double-team of Dolphins offensive linemen in Week 17, he turned to his left and saw QB Tyler Huntley attempting to find the gap and take off with the ball.
But Garrett was not going to let that happen. He wrapped his arm around Huntley and brought him to the ground, recording his second sack of the game as well as his 14th for the 2024 season. It was a sack that cemented Garrett in NFL history as the first player to reach 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons.
Breaking records has been a theme over Garrett's eight seasons in the NFL, records he's broken while in a Browns jersey. Ever since coming to Cleveland as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett has been a foundational piece for the Browns.
Now, he will continue to do so for the next six, as the Browns have agreed to terms on a 4-year contract extension with Garrett that runs through the 2030 season.
Breaking NFL records and securing his name in franchise history doesn't stop there. During the 2024 season, Garrett became the 45th player in NFL history since 1982 to surpass 100 career sacks, and the fourth-fastest player to do so with his 115th game. He is also the only player to accomplish that feat before his 29th birthday.
His 102.5 career sacks are the second-most in the NFL since 2017 – just behind Watt – and are the most by a Brown all time.
From being named a six-time Pro Bowler to winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and a finalist for both 2022 and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett has had a decorated career with the Browns.
Even as the Browns endured struggles during the 2024 season, Garrett still found a high level of success on the field. Not only did he finish the season with 14 sacks – second in the NFL – he also faced a league-high rate of double teams and chip blocks. He was double teamed on a career-high 30 percent of pass rush attempts, but found a way to still apply ample pressure. He totaled a league-high 22 tackles for loss and 84 quarterback hits – the third most in the league.
Yet, following a disappointing season in which the Browns finished with a 3-14 record, Garrett released a statement on Feb. 3 in which he requested a trade. In that statement, he expressed a desire to win.
He had conversations with Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry during routine exit interviews following the season which both sides expressed frustrations about the results of the 2024 season as well as aspirations to win. Berry has reiterated his commitment to returning to winning in 2025 and has believed Garrett plays an integral role in achieving that goal.
With a new extension in place through 2030, Garrett is poised to lead the Browns to those wins and the defense to high levels of success for the foreseeable future.
