Myles Garrett, a former star at Texas A&M, was selected the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The award was given to the former Texas A&M and current Cleveland Browns player on Thursday at the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas.
Myles Garrett, the standout defensive player from Texas A&M and current Cleveland Browns star, achieved a significant milestone in his illustrious career by being named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. The NFL Honors event in Las Vegas on Thursday marked this historic recognition for Garrett, who secured 23 out of 50 first-place votes, surpassing notable contenders like T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Maxx Crosby.
Garrett’s exceptional performance in the 2023 season included leading the Browns with 14 sacks across 16 games, accompanied by impressive stats such as 42 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 37 pressures, 30 quarterback hits, six quarterback hurries, three passes defended, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a blocked kick. Under Garrett’s leadership, the Browns boasted the best defense in the NFL, leading in total defense, pass defense, and third-down defense.
Beyond the AP Defensive Player of the Year accolade, Garrett earned recognition with his fifth Pro Bowl selection and a third-time inclusion in the first-team All-Pro. Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News also bestowed upon him the Defensive Player of the Year title.
Since being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett has consistently validated this decision, becoming the franchise’s all-time sack leader with an impressive total of 88.5 sacks. His dominance is further highlighted by being the only player in the NFL to achieve at least 14 sacks in each of the last three seasons or at least 10 sacks in each of the last six seasons.
Before his NFL career, Garrett played three seasons with the Texas A&M Aggies, where he showcased his talents and earned unanimous All-American honors in 2016. His college achievements included 145 tackles, 48.5 tackles for a loss, 32.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, seven forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
In 2014, Garrett joined Texas A&M as the top-ranked player in the 2014 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. His exceptional skills and achievements have solidified his place as a football icon, both in college and the NFL.
