“Nine years changed me”: Myles Garrett speaks out after Browns-Rams deal

The NFL’s defensive landscape shifted in a major way this week as the Los Angeles Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, ending a nine-year run that defined both the player and the franchise’s modern identity.

For Cleveland, the move marks the end of an era built around one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers. For Los Angeles, it signals another aggressive push for a Super Bowl window that the organization has never been shy about accelerating.

Myles Garrett delivers emotional exit message to Browns

Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most feared edge rushers in football, now joins a Rams team that has repeatedly shown a willingness to trade future assets for elite, proven talent. The deal sends DE Jared Verse to Cleveland, along with a 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, and 2029 third-round pick.

While the trade itself stunned the league, Garrett’s response is what quickly became the emotional center of the moment.

Shortly after the move became official, Garrett posted a farewell message to Browns fans that reflected on nearly a decade in Cleveland, acknowledging not just the football journey, but the city and community that shaped his career.

“Nine years. It’s hard to put into words what that really means when so much of your life has been shaped in one place, around one team, and with one community behind you,” Garrett wrote. “From my very first play, you embraced me, and I wanted to help bring winning back to a city whose loyalty, resilience, and belief never wavered. What I didn’t fully understand then was how much this city would shape me.”

“Loving you is easy, leaving you is the hard part,” Garrett wrote. “Thank you for nine unforgettable years.”

He described the difficulty of leaving an organization and fanbase that he credited with supporting him through injuries, playoff pushes, and rebuilding years. Garrett also made sure to recognize the Browns’ staff and locker room, thanking teammates, coaches, and the training staff for their role in his development.

Now Garrett steps into a Rams organization that has built their identity on bold roster swings. In recent years, Los Angeles has repeatedly pushed chips to the center of the table in pursuit of championships, and adding a defensive player of Garrett’s caliber fits that philosophy perfectly.

For Cleveland, the trade marks a turning point. It signals a shift toward a new roster direction, with the return package expected to play a key role in reshaping the team’s long-term outlook.

For Garrett, though, the focus now shifts immediately. A new system, a new locker room, and a new Super Bowl-caliber expectation await in Los Angeles, but the message he left behind in Cleveland made clear that the city he’s leaving will not be forgotten anytime soon.

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