Garrett is the first player in team history to earn the prestigious honor from the Associated Press. The last Brown to win any DPOY award was Jerry Sherk in 1976.
LAS VEGAS — Cleveland has known for a long time. Frankly, the NFL has, too.
But now, the entire sporting world can never again doubt just how good Myles Garrett is. At long last, he has the hardware to back it up.
The Browns’ stellar pass-rusher was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year at Thursday night’s NFL Honors in Las Vegas. While a number of outlets have given out DPOY trophies for decades, the Associated Press’ version is considered the most prestigious, and Garrett is the first Cleveland player to ever take home the honor.
Already a four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, Garrett was the unquestioned leader of Cleveland’s top-ranked defense in 2023, finishing with 30 quarterback hits, 14 sacks, and 17 tackles for loss. Even when a shoulder injury hampered his stats down the stretch, his mere presence on the field was enough to open up opportunities for teammates like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (20 TFLs) and Za’Darius Smith (5 1/2 sacks). Pro Football Focus also rated him as the best defensive player in the league at any position.
This story will be updated.