A Super Bowl-winning coach who spent nearly two decades with a storied franchise has identified who he thinks is the best overall player in football, and interestingly enough, it's a former division rival. Mike Tomlin, who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons and won Super Bowl XLIII, is now in broadcasting, freeing him up to make his opinions and insights public. Appearing on Pro Football Focus' "NFL Show," Tomlin called Myles Garrett, the longtime Cleveland Brown and current Los Angeles Rams pass rusher, the "best damn player in football." And Tomlin would know, as his Steelers play the Browns twice a season as AFC North rivals.
Tomlin praised Garrett, who set the NFL record for sacks in a single season with 23 in 2025, for having such a historic season when situations normally wouldn't allow for sacks, Tomlin explained. "In the fourth quarter of football games, man, they were behind. Teams were running the football and this guy broke the NFL sack record," he said.
That makes Garrett's addition to the Super Bowl-contending Rams so scary. "If he's on a good team and they're ahead and people have to get one dimensional like those moments dictate, that's where the money is made. That's where legacy is made.
This guy has created a legacy in moments that aren't built for it," Tomlin explained. Now in LA and playing alongside future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald, Garrett is likely to have even more opportunities to build on that already stellar legacy. The Rams have a potent offense led by defending MVP Matthew Stafford and star wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, meaning there will be plenty of games where the offense is putting up points.
Almost by default, those situations will require opposing teams to throw the ball more, something that only creates more of those "money moments" for Garrett. We'll see for the first time how Garrett plays as a Ram on Thursday night, when LA faces the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Donald will miss that first game, but he could be back for the Week 2 matchup with the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
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