Browns’ Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz drew comparisons between Myles Garrett and some of the all-time greats.
Over two decades in the NFL, Jim Schwartz, the defensive coordinator for the Browns, has amassed a wealth of experience. He’s credited with designing some of the most formidable modern defenses, clinching a Super Bowl victory as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, and achieving the seemingly impossible feat of guiding the Detroit Lions to the playoffs.
Throughout his career, Schwartz has mentored and coached some of the greatest talents in the sport, and Myles Garrett is now among that esteemed list. In a recent statement, Schwartz paid the ultimate compliment to Garrett, likening him to a couple of all-time greats.
“In my mind, the definition of a great player is when an opponent starts their game plan with ‘we’re gonna take care of this guy,'” Schwartz explained. “Like ‘we’re not gonna let this guy beat us and he’s still able to be effective and he’s still able to play at a high level. In my career, I’ve really seen that from three players. I’ve seen it from Myles. I’ve seen it from Calvin Johnson and – I was a young quality control coach, so it was only the first three years of his career – but I saw it from Ray Lewis also. Guys that every week the opponent said ‘this guy’s not gonna beat us’ and every week that player still made plays.”
Being mentioned in the same breath as Calvin Johnson and Ray Lewis places Garrett in truly elite company. Both Johnson and Lewis are honored members of the Hall of Fame, with Johnson inducted in 2021 and Lewis in 2018. Garrett’s trajectory suggests he’s on a path to join them in Canton.
While currently embroiled in a heated debate for the Defensive Player of the Year, an accolade that has so far eluded the All-Pro pass rusher, Schwartz firmly believes Garrett is the frontrunner. He pointed out Garrett’s game-changing impact beyond statistics and detailed the myriad ways he influences the outcome of a game.
Garrett’s statistical achievements, including 37 total tackles, 14 for a loss, 26 QB hits, and 13 sacks, reinforce his candidacy. Although he briefly led the league in sacks, a four-game dry spell has seen him drop to seventh. However, Schwartz, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, emphasized that Garrett’s impact goes far beyond the traditional box score.
Stefanski declared Garrett the “best player in the game,” while Ventrone labeled him as the unequivocal best defensive player in the league. Even in the face of Garrett’s odds trailing behind Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons in the race for Defensive Player of the Year, the consensus among the Browns’ coaching staff is clear: Garrett’s dominance on the field speaks for itself, and he remains a pivotal force in the team’s pursuit of a playoff berth.
