Myles Garrett trades the NFL spotlight for Chloe Kim’s Olympic dream

As Chloe Kim prepares to drop into the halfpipe at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, one of the most dominant defenders in football is trading stadium lights for snow-covered mountains.

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, fresh off a historic NFL season and a second Defensive Player of the Year award, has made the trip to Italy to support his girlfriend as she chases a feat no snowboarder has ever achieved: a third straight Olympic gold.

Garrett confirmed during Super Bowl week that he would head overseas almost immediately after the NFL season ended.

“I finish up here Sunday, get back for about 12 hours, and then I hit the road and go to see her,” Garrett said while speaking with People Magazine. “I’m just trying to be her rock because throughout the year she’s mine.”

Two elite athletes, one Olympic moment

Kim enters the 2026 Games as one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic snowboarding history. The two-time gold medalist is attempting to become the first athlete ever to three-peat in the women’s halfpipe, a pursuit made even more daunting by a recent shoulder injury that limited her training in the weeks leading up to the Games. Despite the setback, Kim has maintained her trademark calm and optimism.

“I have so much anxiety,” she admitted earlier this week. “But there’s good vibes here and my family’s here, so we’ll be good.”

Garrett knows something about performing under pressure. The Browns pass rusher just completed one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NFL history, breaking the single-season sack record and earning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors, even as Cleveland struggled as a team.

Though both are global stars, Kim and Garrett have often emphasized how grounded their relationship feels. They were first linked publicly in 2025 and later confirmed their relationship during the NFL season, with Kim appearing at Browns games and Garrett returning the favor during Olympic competition.

“We’re both just so supportive of one another,” Garrett said. “She’s always checking in on me, and I’m doing the same, emotionally and physically.”

Kim has spoken candidly about initially not knowing much about Garrett or the NFL at all, growing up in a household where football wasn’t a major focus. Now, she says, she finds inspiration in his work ethic and demeanor.

“He’s such an incredible athlete,” Kim said in a previous interview. “I’m constantly in awe of how hard he works and how kind he is.”

Garrett’s presence in Italy is a huge pillar of support for Kim. As she balances Olympic expectations with injury management, having someone who understands elite competition at the highest level means a lot.

Kim’s qualifying run begins Wednesday, with the women’s halfpipe final set for Thursday. If she reaches the top of the podium again, she will cement her legacy, and she’ll do so with one of football’s most feared defenders cheering from the sidelines.

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