BEREA, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski declared Wednesday that Myles Garrett‘s basketball career is officially over.
“He retired,” the Cleveland Browns coach said when asked if he was OK with his star pass-rusher playing so much pickup basketball this offseason. “So congratulations on a great career for Myles. Really proud of him. But he’s done.”
This offseason, the Browns All-Pro posted several videos on social media of himself playing basketball. It began in February with Garrett asking Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban if he needed a “big guard.” Garrett attached a pickup highlight reel to the post.
You need a big guard @mcuban? ? pic.twitter.com/73c55fEqTp
— Flash Garrett ⚡️ (@MylesLGarrett) February 24, 2021
Most recently, Garrett tweeted a video of him going behind the back on the dribble, then dunking one-handed over two hapless defenders. Above the video, he wrote, “Aight I’m going back to football” with a laughing emoji.
Aight I’m going back to football ? pic.twitter.com/ZhUNCUip5Z
— Flash Garrett ⚡️ (@MylesLGarrett) May 26, 2021
Myles Garrett been LIVING in the gym this offseason ? @MylesLGarrett (via @CFrankFilms_) pic.twitter.com/SUKq9sCJ6y
— Overtime (@overtime) May 12, 2021
Last summer, Garrett signed the richest contract extension for a non-quarterback at the time, worth $100 million in guaranteed money. Stefanski wouldn’t say whether he had to have a talk with Garrett about a basketball retirement. But Garrett jokingly pushed back that it would ever become permanent.
“I feel it’s more like a Jordan retirement,” Garrett said, using the basketball reference. “Now I got to go back to what I’m good at, what I usually do, playing football, rush the passer, stopping the run.
“But next season, you never know. I might go back to basketball, I might go play baseball, see if I can get on a team. But there’s more on the horizon right now [with football]. I got to get back to what my main focus is.”