_1623080713.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is one of the most prodigious pass rushers in the National Football League.
The Texas A&M product and 2017 first-overall pick has tallied 42.5 sacks in 52 career games.
If presented with the opportunity, the 25-year-old combat sports enthusiast would take down the West Lake, Ohio-raised YouTuber Logan Paul in a boxing match.
“I’d beat the brakes off of Logan Paul, but I have bigger fish to fry. I got a career to take care of,” Garrett told Complex. “Once I’m done with football, I’m out. Maybe as a guest star for a big game. That might be fun. But I won’t be a [Tony] Romo, none of that. A Howie Long. I’m good. I’ll do what I do now. I like playing video games, I like playing other sports. Might get me on a celebrity basketball game one time. You won’t get me into celebrity boxing. I think it’s foolish enough as it is. You’re not going to get me on that.”
It’s evident Garrett has no interest in parlaying his promising NFL career to join the recent run of crossover boxing matches.
The All-Pro Garrett signed a five-year contract extension in 2020 worth $125 million — $100 million of which was guaranteed money — and is set to play in Berea till 2026.
The 6-foot-4, 274-pound Garrett, however, is a big fan of violence.
In 2019, he was involved in an ugly brawl with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph when Garrett grabbed Rudolph’s helmet and hit him in the head with it. The foul led to a fine and subsequent six-game ban before he was reinstated back in the league.
Garrett is also a big-time MMA enthusiast. He’s previously trained alongside the Ohio-based, former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
“It’s been awesome putting in work with Myles Garrett,” Miocic wrote in a 2019 Instagram post “New Cleveland blood, same championship DNA. Dude is a monster!”
Paul was involved in a lucrative and spirited exhibition match with Floyd Mayweather in June and dropped his lone pro fight to entertainer KSI in 2019.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com