Citing the lack of postseason success, the face of the Cleveland Browns franchise demanded the organization trade him. On Feb. 3, Myles Garrett released a statement to fans and the Browns’ front office, who’d previously announced they had no plans to move on from him, requesting to be moved to a new team.
Garrett’s trade demand had many drawing a parallel between him and his Pittsburgh Steelers counterpart, T.J. Watt — like Garrett, a Super Bowl eludes him.
Browns’ Myles Garrett’s Situation Akin to Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt
Garrett’s brief yet poignant statement focused on the quest to hoist the Lombardi Trophy — the ultimate goal of anyone dedicating their life to the NFL. “My desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent.”
Moments after the statement of Garrett’s request was made public, controversial Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden posted to X (formerly Twitter), “T.J. Watt is in the same situation as Garrett. He just won’t admit it to himself.”
T.J. Watt is in the same situation as Garrett. He just won't admit it to himself.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) February 3, 2025
Madden’s observation raises a compelling argument about Watt’s future. While Garrett acknowledges that his prime years could be wasted on a team that isn’t a consistent contender, Steel City’s All-Pro EDGE remains loyal to Pittsburgh despite similar struggles.
Like the Browns, the Steelers have been competitive but far from dominant in recent years. Watt, a Defensive Player of the Year and perennial All-Pro, has been the backbone of their defense, yet his postseason success has been limited. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade and haven’t found the answer at quarterback since franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021.
Watt and Garrett, two game-changing defenders, came from the same 2017 NFL Draft class and have similar career arcs. Where Garrett has the foresight to know his goals won’t come in a Browns uniform, Madden suggests that Watt is in denial about Pittsburgh’s limitations, clinging to the hope that the franchise will turn things around.
Watt’s commitment is admirable, but the Steelers aren’t positioned to deliver a Super Bowl soon. If he truly wants to maximize his legacy, he may eventually have to make the same difficult decision as Garrett.
Watt Remains Loyal Steelers Despite Postseason Failure
In a franchise recognized for its laundry list of revolutionary linebackers, Watt will go down as one of Pittsburgh’s best. He remains loyal despite the Steelers’ being one-and-done in the postseason in each of the four playoff appearances since he came to the pros.
“I don’t want to leave this place,” Watt expressed two days after the Steelers’ heart-breaking Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. “I want to be a part of the solution.”
Barring a Steelers miracle (or an unforeseen trade), Watt will likely retire one accolade shy of a full deck — the coveted Super Bowl ring.
Loyalty Without a Lombardi: Watt, Heyward Face a Harsh Reality With Steelers
Watt isn’t the only future Hall of Famer on Pittsburgh’s roster who will retire, never having experienced the thrill of a Super Bowl victory.
Steelers stalwart defensive tackle Cam Heyward was selected at No. 31 overall in the 2011 NFL draft — a year after Pittsburgh’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45.
Unlike Watt, Heyward was part of a team that once had playmakers like running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Alongside “Big Ben” Roethlisberger, the trio was known as the Killer Bs. All of that firepower and nothing to show for it — eight misses in 14 postseason appearances.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
In his postseason comments, Watt acknowledged his teammate, the longest-tenured in Pittsburgh. “I’ve put so much into it here and seen so many guys — I want to help Cam Heyward get to where we need to get … I love the people here, and that goes beyond just the coaches. It’s the fan base, it’s the people, the community — and we owe it to them to get it right.”
The frustrations are real. The Steelers are more than just a quarterback away from being legitimate contenders. And there’s not much Watt and Heyward can do about it except keep grinding — or pull a Myles Garrett.
