Browns' DC Jim Schwartz Compared Myles Garrett To These All-Time Greats

As Myles Garrett receives plenty of praise from his teammates and coaches this week, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz may have provided the highest of compliments, comparing the Browns star to a couple NFL legends

Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has seen some things over his 20 years in the NFL. 

He's been the architect of some of the great modern defenses. He's won a Super Bowl as a defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. Accomplished the unthinkable in taking the Detroit Lions to the playoffs. 

He's also coached some of the best players to every play this sport. You can add Myles Garrett to that list.

On Thursday, Schwartz bestowed Garrett with some of the highest compliment a player can receive as he compared Cleveland's star pass rusher to a couple other 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 said. "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."

That's some pretty elite company for Garrett to be linked with. Both Johnson and Lewis are enshrined in Canton as members of the 2021 and 2018 Hall of Fame classes, respectively. Garrett is certainly headed to the birthplace of football himself, given the trajectory he's on. 

Right now though, he's in the middle of a hotly debated race for Defensive Player of the Year, an accolade that has eluded the All-Pro pass rusher to this point in his career, despite his dominance. Schwartz believes his time has come.

"Of course," he said in regards to whether or not Garrett should be the front runner for the award. "Myles fits in that category. Affects the game. Helps other people make plays. We could have a two hour press conference on the ways that he impacts the game.

On the season, Garrett has compiled 37 total tackles, 14 for a loss, 26 QB hits and 13 sacks. At one point those 13 sacks led the league, but a four game drought without one has seen him fade in that category. He's seventh at the moment.

Garrett's impact goes well beyond the box score though, something head coach Kevin Stefanski also tried to point out earlier this week when he called Garrett the "best player in the game."

"Just talk about the guy that affects the game, that pressures the quarterback, that plays the run, that plays with unbelievable effort," Stefanski said. "I don’t know that there’s anybody in the same realm as him."

Dec 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after the Browns beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

"He’s dominant as a defensive player, so he’s the defensive player of the year. I don’t think it’s close, and he’s going to finish strong for this football team."

Even special team's coordinator Bubba Ventrone got in on the conversation on Thursday, echoing Stefanski's sentiments.

"He's just, ridiculous," Ventrone said. "I've been in the league since 2005, I've never been around a football player like that guy. It's Unbelievable.

"It's not even a question, he's hands down the best football player in the league. Defensively, he's hands down the best. There's no one even remotely close to him in my opinion."

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At this juncture, Garrett is currently listed as having the second best odds to win the award in numerous sportsbooks. The leader in the clubhouse though, continues to be Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson, who is actually a half sack behind Garrett with 12.5 on the season.

Whether or not all the politicking for Garrett pays off remains to be seen. In the meantime, Garrett can bolster his case by helping the Browns lock up a playoff berth – potentially as soon as this weekend.