For the third consecutive year, DE Myles Garrett has been voted The Sporting News' Defensive Player of the Year for 2025.
Garrett and each of the recipients for the Sporting News' awards were voted on by peers from around the league. Winners for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year were selected by fellow players, with more than 700 players casting ballots in the annual voting.
The Sporting News, which was established in 1886, presented its first NFL Player of the Year in 1964 to Browns OT/K Lou Groza. Then, in 2008 The Sporting News began awarding Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Since its inception, five Browns players have earned accolades from The Sporting News.
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.
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.
