The Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett did not hold back when asked about Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in the AFC North, sending the new Pittsburgh Steelers‘ quarterback a chilling message.
The veteran QB, who won the Super Bowl in 2011, officially signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on June 7, worth more than $13 million, ending weeks of speculation and months of dialogue.
And the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time First-team All-Pro, made sure to remind the 41-year-old ex-New York Jet that he should not expect an easy time in the 2025/26 campaign.
“Good opportunity to put him in the graveyard,” Garrett said, referencing a now-iconic Halloween display outside his home, when asked how he feels about Rodgers linking up with Pittsburgh.
The comment, though delivered with a smile, carries weight given Garrett‘s reputation as one of the sport’s most feared pass rushers – logging over 100 career sacks since he made his debut in 2017.
The “graveyard” remark stems from a Halloween installation he created in 2021, in which tombstones representing quarterbacks he had sacked were placed on his front lawn; featuring names like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
Now, with Rodgers joining the division, the Browns defender appears ready to add another tombstone to the collection. However, though some interpreted Garrett‘s statement as a dark threat, the tone during the media availability was far from hostile.
Reporters laughed in response, understanding the context of the display and the personality behind it. However, fans online were less forgiving.
One fan wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter, “I’m all for sacks and TFLs, but on-field murder is probably a bridge too far, even for the NFL.”
A second said, “We know how he gets with Steelers [quarterbacks].”
That remark points to Garrett’s 2019 altercation with the then-Steelers’ player, Mason Rudolph, which ended in a brawl after the Browns’ defender claimed the latter used a racial slur, a claim the quarterback denied.
Why did Aaron Rodgers join the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Rodgers practiced with the team for the first time on Tuesday, June 10 and addressed the media afterward, explaining why he ultimately chose Pittsburgh after also revealing that he got married too.
He emphasized Pittsburgh’s rich football culture, calling it one of the “iconic franchises” in the NFL, and also noted personal connections to the area and to people with Pittsburgh ties that shaped his career during his time with the Green Bay Packers.
“It starts with Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers said to reporters. “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time.
“There is something special about, obviously, this area,” Rodgers said. “So many great quarterbacks are from Pittsburgh. I feel like Pittsburgh has been a part of my career from the beginning.”
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