Myles Garrett’s first media appearance following his blockbuster trade from Cleveland to Los Angeles revealed a player focused on something deeper than the familiar ‘Super Bowl or bust’ rhetoric that has naturally trailed the move.

Yes, Garrett wants to win a championship, just as he understands why the Rams paid such a steep price to acquire him, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year spoke repeatedly about legacy, longevity and the opportunity to test himself in a new environment as he enters his thirties. The edge rusher’s comments during an introductory press conference in Woodland Hills suggested a player motivated as much by time as trophies.

At 30, Garrett is no longer the ascending prospect who entered the NFL as the first overall pick in 2017. He arrives in Los Angeles as a seven-time Pro Bowler, a five-time First-Team All-Pro and the active leader in career sacks with 125.5. There is no need for him to prove that he belongs among the NFL’s elite, but Garrett is determined to add to a résumé that already appears destined for Canton.

“I see a position to solidify myself among the very greats,” Garrett said. “I still have plenty of great years in front of me, and being able to cement that legacy, not only as a football city here in L.A., but as an individual in winning DPOY and a Super Bowl or more, those things are definitely pressing on my mind, and I have definitely a bit of urgency to do it and do it right away.”

While Garrett acknowledged his affection for Cleveland and the community that embraced him during nine seasons with the Browns, his comments also revealed a player acutely aware that opportunities to compete for championships are finite.

“Since the very beginning, it’s always been about winning,” Garrett said. “It just breaks down to the time I have left in this league. What does it look like for me to be a winner now? And to have an opportunity to do that here? That was an opportunity that was just too difficult to pass up.”

The sense of urgency surfaced repeatedly throughout the media session in which Garrett was flanked by general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay, a show of force that underlined just how heavily the Rams are betting that Garrett’s best years remain ahead of him.

Los Angeles surrendered outside linebacker Jared Verse plus a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick to complete a trade that, according to Albert Breer on The Rich Eisen Show, was initially explored as far back as 2022 — just after the Rams had claimed a Lombardi on the back of their last great game-wrecker, Aaron Donald.

“To be able to get something great, unfortunately we had to give up something great,” McVay said. “Not gonna pretend to have all the answers, but when you look at [Garrett’s] body of work, what you envision in terms of the fit and how that can help the other 10 guys around him, the different things that he elicits attention-wise, the opportunities to can free him up, or where he can offer opportunities for other guys to get the man-side of the protection, those are great questions.

Garrett suggested the attraction worked both ways, admitting that the prospect of joining reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford and a Rams team that led the league in scoring in 2025 was a significant factor in his decision to waive the no-trade clause in his Browns contract.

“I mean, that did play into the decision as well,” Garrett said with a smile. “Knowing I’ll have the ability late in games to pin my ears back, not just because we need a play to be made, but because we have the lead and it’s obvious passing downs. Being able to make plays to win the game for us, those are things that appeal to me — and I’m sure appeal to all of us as D-linemen. That is something I really look forward to.”

Perhaps most tellingly, Garrett does not arrive seeking reinvention. Having already established himself as the premier pass rusher currently in the NFL, he does not need to change anything. He’ll continue wearing #95, the jersey number he has worn throughout his NFL career, with Poona Ford switching to #97 to accommodate the change. It is a small detail, but an appropriate one. The Rams are not asking Garrett to become something different, but betting that the player who accumulated 125.5 sacks in Cleveland can remain the same and finally pursue a place on the game’s biggest stage.