Browns' Myles Garrett Is 'A F--king Nightmare' to Game Plan Around, Says NFL HC

Cleveland Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett is entering his ninth year in the NFL, and he's still causing sleepless nights for opposing coaches.

The Athletic's Jeff Howe polled 30 NFL coaches and executives on the league's best defensive player, and Garrett was far and away the leading recipient.

"Your whole game plan is centered around one guy," one head coach said of Garrett. "It's a f--king (nightmare)."

Garrett received 17 of the 30 votes, well ahead of Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt (4), Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (4), Green Bay Packers newly-acquired star Micah Parsons (3), Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones (1) and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (1). Howe noted that Garrett had also won this category in the 2024 poll with 13 out of 26 votes.

The 29-year-old played in all 17 games last season and recorded 47 total tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection. He finished third in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year after winning the award in 2023, but he clearly hasn't lost any respect from around the league. Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, didn't receive a vote in Howe's poll.

Garrett was rewarded with a four-year, $160 million extension this offseason, so he will undoubtedly be motivated to wreak havoc on opposing offenses during the 2025 campaign. He and the Browns will open the year on Sunday against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.