Is Myles Garrett disappointed that Jim Schwartz isn’t the Browns’ head coach??
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett went viral the day Todd Monken was hired as Browns head coach by posting a photo on his Instagram story of a fast food employee sitting on a bench with their head down.
The post didn’t have a caption, but it seemed to be a strong statement that Garrett was disappointed about his beloved defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, being passed over for the job despite strong endorsements from Garrett and other Browns defenders.
At the very least, he may have been expressing his dismay over reports that Schwartz packed up his office and left the building, telling some staffers that he wasn’t coming back.
Garrett has elevated his game to likely first-ballot Hall of Fame standards under Schwartz, with what’s about to be his second AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, and the long-coveted NFL single-sack record this season with 23.0.
Garrett, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and others touted Schwartz as their next head coach, and hoped he would apply his standard of excellence to the whole team that he has to the defense.
The Browns kept Garrett in the loop throughout the coaching search, sources said, and he wasn’t surprised on Wednesday when Monken was named the Browns’ 19th head coach.
The Browns understand Garrett’s fierce loyalty to Schwartz, and didn’t make too much of the Instagram post.
They also hope Schwartz comes back for the final two years of his contract, and continues to preside over one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL. They don’t expect Garrett to ask to be traded, but if he does, the answer will be “no,” just like it was last year when he asked out to try to win a Super Bowl elsewhere.
Instead, the Browns signed Garrett to a four-year contract last March that runs through 2030 at $40 million a year, and fully intend to have him finish his career here.
Heading into the season finale, Garrett — coming off seasons of 3-14 and 5-12 — stressed that he’s not up for more rebuilding in 2026.
“I quote Maxx (Crosby),” he said. “I’m committed to winning and as long as the team and the organization are doing so — they’re committed to that same thing — then I’m all on board. But if we’re thinking anything other than winning — tanking or rebuilding — it’s not me.”
The Browns are in the midst of a rebuild, but should be able to win in 2026 if they can field a winning quarterback. They’re committing most of their resources to the offensive side of the ball, and hired Monken to orchestrate the revival. As of now, they have Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in their quarterback room, but they’re open to acquiring another quarterback if need be, either a rookie or a veteran.
The Browns will also rebuild their offense line, and add some weapons to go along with Harold Fannin Jr., Jerry Jeudy, Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Cedric Tillman and Isaiah Bond.
If Schwartz decides not to return, and the Browns are certainly hopeful he will, Garrett would have his fifth defensive coordinator since 2017.
“I’m going to allow them to do what they do, give my opinions as they ask for it,” Garrett said heading into the season finale. “And then I’ve got to rock with whoever they have here, but love Jim and I love playing for him.”
Hopefully for the Browns and their fans, both Schwartz and Garrett will be back in 2026 and just as productive as they were last season.
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