NEW DELHI: In what was a bittersweet moment for
Cleveland Browns
All-Pro defensive end
Myles Garrett
, the team officially clinched a playoff berth on Thursday night with a victory against the
New York Jets
. However, Garrett found it challenging to fully embrace the achievement due to a recent and unexpected loss in his family.
Garrett revealed that he almost didn't take the field for the critical game against the Jets as he grappled with the passing of his uncle earlier in the week on Christmas night.
Despite the weight of personal grief, Garrett chose to play but admitted that he had considered stepping away if his family needed him.
“I kind of left it up to my mother, and if she needed me, I’d have been gone in a second," Garrett shared about the possibility of missing the game. "And football is great. I love this team, I love the Browns, but I only got one mom. I’m hopefully going to have many more games, many more years, but there was only one CJ, and there’s only one mom. If she needed me, I’m always going to be there for her, just like she is for me.”
Despite the personal tragedy, Garrett demonstrated incredible strength by suiting up for the Browns, contributing three tackles, including his first sack in five games. His resilient efforts not only contributed to the victory over the Jets but also played a pivotal role throughout the season, leading the franchise to a playoff berth for the second time in four years.
The emotional toll of the unexpected loss during the holiday season was evident as Garrett expressed the heartbreaking reality of not fully experiencing the joy of the holidays with his loved ones. In a postgame press conference, Garrett explained his decision to share the news, stating, “I think getting it off my chest is kind of like the best medicine. I also didn’t want my teammates, if they saw me walking off the field, to feel like I wasn’t proud or happy of what we accomplished and achieved tonight."
Garrett's decision to address the personal tragedy publicly also served as a message to his teammates, emphasizing the depth of his commitment to the team despite the personal challenges he faced. The close-knit nature of the Browns was evident, with Garrett acknowledging the support he received from his teammates during this difficult time.
English (US) ·