The 2023 Cleveland Browns season was full of extreme highs and extreme lows. The team finished with an 11-5 record but was ejected from the playoffs in the first round. That wasn’t the team’s expectation for itself entering the year. But, given the historic nature of the team’s injury situation, it’s amazing they got as far as they did. For perhaps the team’s biggest star, edge rusher Myles Garrett, it was very much the same. He was a dominant force early in the season. By the Browns 10th game, he had amassed an astounding 13 sacks. But he was a shell of himself after a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos. Garrett would only get one more sack for the remainder of the season.
Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett Wins Multiple Awards; Is NFL Defensive Player of the Year Next?
It’s a testament to how dominant Myles Garrett was in the first three months of the season that he’s been nominated for so many postseason awards. First, Garrett was named First Team All-Pro. That was his fifth All-Pro selection of his career, his third on the first team. Myles Garrett then followed that up with a spot on the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-NFL team. That was his fourth straight All-NFL team selection, the longest among active players. Garrett was also named Professional Athlete of the Year at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards and made the Pro Bowl.
But the next two honors truly vaulted Myles Garrett back into the conversation for the league’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. First, the PFWA named Garrett its Defensive Player of the Year. He is the first Cleveland Browns player to win the award. Then, Garrett became one of five finalists for the AP Defensive Player of the Year. There have only been three times in the 21st century that the PWFA and AP did not agree on their respective Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Other Cleveland Browns Honors
In addition to Myles Garrett being a 2023 Associated Press Awards finalist, three other members of the Cleveland Browns were named as well. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski made the list for AP Coach of the Year. Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz is a finalist for AP Assistant Coach of the Year. Quarterback Joe Flacco, in perhaps the greatest month of relief pitching the NFL has seen, looks like a great candidate for AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Browns guard Joel Bitonio joined Garrett on PWFA’s All-AFC squad, the first time he’s made the team. In addition to Garrett, guard Joel Bitonio, wide receiver Amari Cooper, tight end David Njoku, and cornerback Denzel Ward were named to the Pro Bowl. That was the most the Cleveland Browns had since 1988. They were joined by guard Wyatt Teller and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who were named to the AFC squad as alternates. Rookie right tackle Dawand Jones was also named to the 2023 PFWA’s All-Rookie team.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
