Myles Garrett spent nine seasons in Cleveland without a deep playoff run. Just six days after being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, he stood on the mound at Dodger Stadium in a Kobe Bryant Lakers shirt throwing a sharp, hard first pitch in front of 50,000 fans. The Los Angeles reception has been just as strong.
The blockbuster trade was finalized on June 1, 2026. The Rams sent edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to the Browns in exchange for Garrett. Garrett, the reigning NFL single-season sack record holder (23 sacks in 2025), waived his no-trade clause to join a contender.
Feb 12, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Cleveland Browns player Myles Garrett in attendance in the women’s halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Six days after arriving in LA, Garrett stepped onto the Dodger Stadium mound for the ceremonial first pitch of the Dodgers-Angels Freeway Series. The Rams posted the video showing Garrett warming up in a Kobe Bryant graphic tee and a Dodgers cap before delivering a hard, accurate fastball-style throw. Chloe Kim, the two-time Olympic snowboard gold medalist and his girlfriend, was present in the stands. The video drew 345,000 views within hours of posting.
The Kobe Bryant shirt was intentional. Garrett’s father is from Los Angeles, and he grew up a Lakers fan. At his introductory press conference, he referenced Rams legends like Deacon Jones and the Fearsome Foursome, showing his respect for LA football history. “I definitely recall watching film of the Fearsome Foursome, Deacon Jones,” Garrett said. “I actually grew up watching that in high school.” For a player who has cultivated a reputation off the field for depth and intentionality, the shirt choice landed exactly as intended.
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Kim’s presence added another dimension to the appearance. She is a native of Torrance, California, and made their relationship public after the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo in May 2025. By February 2026, Garrett flew to Italy to watch her compete at the Winter Olympics, where she won silver in the halfpipe. “He gets what it’s like to be an athlete,” Kim told Today in February. “He understands the pressure and all that.” Her role in the LA move drew widespread attention, though Kim addressed social media speculation directly and declined to take credit for the trade.
Garrett did not hide his reason for leaving. When he signed his four-year, $160 million extension with Cleveland in 2025 – the richest deal for a non-quarterback in NFL history at the time – he included a no-trade clause specifically to retain leverage. Once the Browns made clear they were not building a contender, he exercised that leverage without hesitation.
“Since the very beginning, it’s always been about winning,” Garrett said. The Rams, who lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game last January, were the team that matched what he was looking for both on the field and in the city.
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Head coach Sean McVay has already said the addition changes the ceiling of the Rams’ defense. Los Angeles added All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie earlier this offseason and now pairs him with the NFL’s most productive pass rusher. NFL analysts immediately installed Los Angeles as a top-three Super Bowl contender after the trade. The first pitch was a fun welcome to Los Angeles. But what matters most is what Myles Garrett does at SoFi Stadium starting in September.
The Rams open the 2026 season on September 7 against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles will host the Super Bowl this February.
