The Associated Press announced their finalists for the 2025 AP Awards, and the Browns have players nominated in two categories.
There are five finalists in each category, and the winner of each award will be announced at the NFL Honors presented by Invisalign at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Feb. 5.
DE Myles Garrett is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. This is the third consecutive nomination for Garrett for the award, as he was named the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist in 2024.
Garrett made history throughout the season, capping off his ninth NFL season by setting the NFL single-season sack record in Week 18 with his 23rd sack. He also broke the Browns single-season sack record that he set in 2021 and tied in 2022. Garrett became the first player since 1982 to record 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons when he recorded his 12th sack of the season in Week 11, as well set the record for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30, surpassing Reggie White. He is also the first player in NFL history to record at least 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons.
"Working with him up close now for two years and just seeing the type of athlete that he is, with the size that he has and the strength and the explosive ability and the bend and the flexibility and the movement skills – there's no one that I can think of that can do some of the things that he does," defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire said in December 2025. "He's routinely getting chipped from tight ends, backs. He's routinely getting the slide coming to him, a guard coming off and helping out. So, when you got that much attention every week and you're still putting up the numbers that he's putting up, that's pretty special. I may be biased, but I think he's the best defensive player I've ever seen."
Garrett had three games this season with at least three sacks, with his best game of the season against the Patriots in Week 8 with five sacks. He not only set a season-high with five sacks, but also broke his own Browns' record for the most sacks in a game. Garrett's five sacks in Week 8 were also the most sacks by an NFL player in a game this season. Garrett recorded at least a half of a sack in nine straight games, the longest streak of his career, and 12 total games.
In addition to his 23 sacks, Garrett led the league with 33 tackles for loss during the regular season – and set a career high in tackles for loss. His 33 tackles for loss are also the second-most by a player in a single season since 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt who totaled 39 tackles for loss in 2012. Garrett added 60 tackles and 39 quarterback hits, as well as one pass defensed and three forced fumbles.
"I just know this from 10 years that I was in the NFL as a player (and) for six years now as a coach, I haven't seen a more dominant football player than (Garrett)," Cesaire said in December 2025.
LB Carson Schwesinger is a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
From Week 1 of the regular season, Schwesinger showcased his positive impact on the defense. He wore the green dot for the Browns throughout the 2025 season, acting as the signal caller for the defense.
"I was with Ray Lewis his first three years in the NFL. Ray's obviously a Hall of Famer, maybe the best ever to play in the linebacker position, but the command that Carson has now in a lot of respects took to Ray's third year in the league," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said in November 2025. "It's a very difficult position and he's been right in the middle of it. It's been fun to watch because not only does he do all that stuff well, but he (also) has great command. He's a great leader for us. He's our play caller."
Schwesinger recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the Packers and his first career interception in Week 8 against the Patriots. He finished the 2025 season with a team-high146 tackles and added 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, two interceptions and three passes defensed.
Schwesinger led all rookies this season with 146 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. He was also tied for second with two interceptions. He recorded double-digit tackles in seven games during the 2025 season, which were the most among NFL rookies and included a stretch of six consecutive games – the longest streak in the NFL this season. Schwesinger also tied Luke Kuechly (six consecutive games in 2012 with Carolina) for the longest such streak by a rookie since 2000.
He is one of five linebackers in NFL history to record at least 145 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in their rookie season since 2000. His 146 tackles are the most by a Browns rookie since the team's return in 1999, while his two interceptions are the most by a Browns rookie since CB Denzel Ward recorded three in 2018.
"It's really been an honor to coach that kid," Schwartz said on Jan. 1. "He's done everything – and he's played extremely tough. He prepares the same, he goes out and plays effectively. And I think some of the plays that I think he's played the best are plays that you guys might not notice, because he'll take something away in the passing game or he'll play perfectly in the run game and somebody else will make the play. And he's been a good leader for us – he's increased that as the season's gone on, and I look forward to seeing him even take greater strides as a player. Really a cement block for our defense and I think defensive rookie of the year."
