The Cleveland Browns may still be chasing consistency on the field, but when it comes to postseason accolades, they’re stacking wins.
Myles Garrett headlined the Browns’ award season haul, bringing home the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time-and this time, he did it unanimously. That’s a rare feat, one that puts him in elite company.
Garrett didn’t just dominate-he rewrote the record books. His 23.0 sacks set a new single-season mark, and he added a league-leading 33 tackles for loss, along with 53 pressures, 14 knockdowns, 39 QB hits, 60 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and just two missed tackles.
He even swatted down a pass for good measure. The man was everywhere.
That kind of production earned him not only DPOY honors but also the Deacon Jones Award, given to the league’s top sack artist.
But Garrett wasn’t the only Brown taking home hardware.
Carson Schwesinger, the team’s second-round pick out of UCLA, was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year-a nod to both his impact and the Browns’ scouting department. Schwesinger didn’t just flash potential; he delivered.
He racked up 156 total tackles-sixth-most in the league-despite missing the season finale with a quad injury that landed him on injured reserve. His instincts, range, and tackling efficiency made him a cornerstone of the Browns’ defense from Day 1.
That pick, by the way, came with some drama. Cleveland held the first pick of the second round in the 2025 NFL Draft, and GM Andrew Berry was fielding calls left and right.
With blue-chip talent still on the board, it would’ve been easy to trade down. But Berry stood firm and took Schwesinger.
That decision is already paying off.
Berry’s draft class was about more than just one hit. He snagged three players who led the nation in major statistical categories: Schwesinger with 90 solo tackles, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who topped the country with a 74.0% completion rate, and tight end Harold Fannin, who led in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555). That’s not just good scouting-it’s a blueprint for building a core.
Meanwhile, a familiar face from the Browns’ past is making waves of his own. Mike Vrabel, who spent time in Cleveland’s front office in 2024 as a coaching and personnel consultant, was named NFL Coach of the Year after leading the New England Patriots to a stunning turnaround.
Vrabel, who won the same award back in 2021 during his time with the Titans, is now preparing to coach in the Super Bowl. His return to Foxborough has been nothing short of storybook-he won three rings as a player with the Patriots, and now he’s steering the ship as head coach.
Cleveland has its own veteran coach now in Todd Monken, and while his path differs from Vrabel’s, there’s no shortage of experience or vision. With Garrett anchoring the defense, Schwesinger emerging as a star, a strong 2025 draft class already making waves, and an extra first-round pick waiting in 2026, the pieces are in place.
For Browns fans, the wins may not have piled up yet-but the foundation is getting stronger. And if this season’s awards are any indication, the future in Cleveland might be closer than it appears.