Browns’ Myles Garrett: A rebuild is ‘not me’ and he’s had ‘more downs than ups’ in his 6 years with Kevin Stefanski

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett sent nan connection large and clear again connected Friday that he wants to beryllium present only if nan Browns are committed to winning, and he besides noted there’s been “more downs than ups” successful his six years pinch Kevin Stefanski.

Garrett, who asked to beryllium traded past offseason because he wanted to spell elsewhere to triumph a Super Bowl, emphasized that he’s not up for much rebuilding successful 2026.

“I quote Maxx (Crosby),” he said. “I’m committed to winning and arsenic agelong arsenic nan squad and nan statement are doing truthful — they’re committed to that aforesaid point — past I’m each connected board. But if we’re reasoning thing different than winning -- tanking aliases rebuilding -- it’s not me.”

In February, coming disconnected nan 4-13 season, Garrett demanded a waste and acquisition because he didn’t judge nan Browns’ desire to triumph large successful 2026 aligned pinch his ain Super Bowl aspirations. In March, he signed a blockbuster four-year, $40 cardinal a twelvemonth extension, and vowed to beryllium nan subordinate and leader nan Browns needed him to be. He besides secured a no-trade clause to power his future.

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As nan Browns caput into Sunday’s play finale successful Cincinnati, they’re 4-12, and Kevin Stefanski (44-56, 1-2 successful postseason) is successful jeopardy of being fired. What’s more, nan Browns mightiness caput into 2026 pinch Shedeur Sanders arsenic their QB1, which could mean much increasing pains successful nan early going.

Will Garrett, who leads nan Browns pinch 22.0 sacks and needs 1 much to group nan NFL single-season record, springiness nan Browns his sentiment connected Stefanski for illustration he has connected truthful galore different topics complete nan past fewer years?

“I play football,” he said. “If they inquire maine my sentiment connected immoderate they inquire maine about, but I play shot and that’s wherever I for illustration to support my focus.”

When asked astir his six years nether Stefanski, during which he’s had 4 losing seasons and 2 playoff campaigns, Garrett didn’t springiness Stefanski a ringing endorsement.

“It’s been six? Five?” he said. “(Expletive). My experience, for illustration anything, we’ve had ups and downs. Unfortunately, much downs than ups. I would person loved to make a small spot much sound successful immoderate different years, particularly this twelvemonth pinch really good we’ve been playing connected defense. But it conscionable wasn’t successful nan cards. We’ve sewage to proceed to turn and find ways to improve. This squad has excessively galore talented individuals not to.”

Asked if he’d for illustration continuity, he said, “I want things to beryllium successful, nevertheless that looks.”

Can nan Browns beryllium successful if Stefanski remains connected nan job?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t cognize what nan early holds, whether it’s pinch him aliases thing else. I’m going to look guardant to playing nether whoever it is. Be happy to beryllium present and being a Brown regardless.”

While he seemed to put nan onus connected Stefanski for squandering 1 of nan astir ascendant protect performances successful Browns’ history, he was effusive — again — successful his praise for protect coordinator Jim Schwartz, who’s besides been rumored to beryllium a imaginable campaigner to replaced Stefanski.

“I for illustration Jim,” Garrett said. “I for illustration nan coaches that we have. So I don’t cognize what’s going to beryllium successful nan future. Would I for illustration to play nether Jim? Would I for illustration to support nan squad and for america to improve? Absolutely. But these are things that are handled by group who motion my checks truthful they make bigger decisions than I tin relationship for. So I’m going to let them to do what they do, springiness my opinions arsenic they inquire for it. And past I’ve sewage to stone pinch whoever they person here, but emotion Jim and I emotion playing for him.”

What mightiness a Schwartz-coached squad look like? Schwartz, who went 29-51 successful his 5 seasons arsenic caput coach of nan Lions from 2009-13 and 0-1 successful nan playoffs, reiterated to cleveland.com precocious that he’d for illustration to beryllium a caput coach someday. He said nan aforesaid point successful 2023 erstwhile he was Assistant Coach of nan Year.

“Again, I can’t spot into nan future,” Garrett said. “I don’t cognize what it would beryllium like. I cognize it’d beryllium regimented and astir apt very efficient. That’s really he runs it connected defense, truthful I deliberation those 2 things will clasp true, but really it would travel retired to results connected nan field, that’s ever wished by us. And sometimes things we can’t control, for illustration injuries and nan like.

This station will beryllium updated.

Mary Kay Cabot has much than 30 years acquisition covering nan Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, and became only nan 2nd female successful Pro Football Hall of Fame history to triumph nan Bill Nunn...