Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Myles Garrett News Announced Amid NFL Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Feb 19, 2026 10:44 AM ET

Myles Garrett closed the 2025 season with one of the most dominant defensive performances in NFL history. The Cleveland Browns star set the single-season sack record with 23, surpassing the long-standing mark of 22.5 set by former New York Giants DE Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt.

Garrett also led the league with 33 tackles for loss, added 39 quarterback hits, forced three fumbles and finished with 60 total tackles. His production earned him Unanimous First-Team All-Pro honors and a second AP Defensive Player of the Year award. It was the type of season that further solidified his standing among the league’s elite pass rushers.

Yet the Browns’ year did not mirror Garrett’s individual success. Cleveland finished 5-12, missing the playoffs and parting ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski after the disappointing campaign.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95).Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

As Garrett prepares for his 10th NFL season, there is little indication of decline. He has recorded double-digit sack totals in eight of his nine NFL seasons and averages 13.9 sacks per year for his career. His combination of explosiveness, technique and durability continues to make him one of the league’s most disruptive defensive players.

On Thursday, Sports Illustrated unveiled Garrett as its latest cover athlete, recognizing his record-breaking 2025 campaign. In the accompanying feature, Garrett reflected on chasing history, maintaining focus amid team struggles and his desire to translate individual milestones into postseason success. He also discussed leadership and the responsibility that comes with being the face of a franchise.

NFL sack king Myles Garrett relied on big dreams and a little self-doubt to establish football’s new magic number https://t.co/XuWfoWfOpZ pic.twitter.com/3pzpeBqcXt
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 19, 2026

Garrett remains firmly entrenched as the centerpiece of Cleveland’s roster. In March 2025, he signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Browns, including $123.5 million guaranteed and an average annual value of $40 million, making him one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL. As he enters Year 10, Garrett’s legacy continues to grow, both through record-setting production and sustained excellence at one of football’s most demanding positions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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