Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy gives his unfiltered reaction to Myles Garrett no longer being in the AFC North
Myles Garrett is no longer a Cleveland Brown after a blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Rams, and that will send shockwaves through the AFC North. Mike McCarthy knows that, and he shared his true reaction.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were enjoying their day off ahead of the start of mandatory minicamp when the bombshell of all bombshells dropped. Myles Garrett, who terrorized the Pittsburgh Steelers for the better part of a decade, is no longer a Brown. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, whom the Steelers will play only in 2026 if they make it to the Super Bowl.
So it was certainly a day to celebrate in Pittsburgh, and Mike McCarthy wasn’t afraid to share his reaction to what happened.
Myles Garrett’s career stats against the Steelers
16 total games played vs Pittsburgh.
- 47 total tackles.
- 13 sacks.
- 1 fumble recovery.
Mike McCarthy is happy Myles Garrett is out of the AFC North
“I’m all for it,” McCarthy said with a slight grin via Cris Carter on X-Twitter. “He’s a phenomenal player. I had a chance to compete against him two years ago, but you know, when you see these types of situations, you know it happens. Obviously, he’ll have a great opportunity out there in LA, but it’s just trades and transactions. I’m never surprised, but what a great player.”
There is no doubt that Cleveland moving on from Myles Garrett is a major win for the Steelers. This is a player whom you have to gameplan for twice a year. Mike Tomlin would literally call him a game wrecker, and Garrett went as far as to say last year that the Steelers lost the Week 17 game against the Browns because they were more concerned with containing him than they were trying to win the game.
How the Garrett trade helps the Steelers playoff chances
The Browns weren’t exactly viewed as competition for the AFC North crown in 2026, but when No. 95 is on the other sideline, you know that one play can change the game, and the outcome of a game can be flipped on its head because of him.
Take Garrett away, and it’s obvious that the Steelers have less of a worry when it comes to dropping a game against Cleveland. That, in turn, could help the Steelers win more games and make a push at the playoffs.