Myles Garrett is trading his helmet for a passport this offseason, heading to Italy to support snowboarder Chloe Kim at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in a surprising trip that has fans talking.
Kim, who aims to win her third consecutive Olympic halfpipe gold, suffered a torn labrum in her shoulder last month but remains determined to make history in Milan Cortina, with the NFL star by her side as emotional and physical support.
Garrett, the league’s single-season sack leader, told People‘s Janine Rubenstein on Radio Row last week in San Francisco that he was preparing to fly to Italy to be Kim‘s “rock” as she chases a historic achievement.
“We’re both just so supportive of one another,” Garrett said. “She’s always texting, she’s always calling to see how I’m doing during the year…
“And I’m doing the same right now, checking on her, seeing how she’s feeling, emotionally and physically.”
Kim first won Olympic gold at 17 during the 2018 PyeongChang Games and repeated in Beijing four years later. Despite her recent shoulder injury, she returned to practice two weeks ago, saying the brace on her left shoulder “made my riding better.”
“I have so much anxiety,” Kim said Monday, per Eddie Pells of the Associated Press. “But thankfully I have matcha (tea) and there’s good vibes here and my family’s here, so we’ll be good.”
Her optimism remains despite the setback affecting her training regimen as she chases down a gold medal.
Myles Garrett isn’t happy with sack record and DPOY: Sets new lofty goals
Garrett, the Cleveland Browns star, broke the NFL single-season sack record in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with 23 sacks and surpassing Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt, who shared the previous record of 22.5.
His historic season earned him his second career Defensive Player of the Year award, a unanimous selection that underscored his dominance, while also leaving him asking what comes next for his career in interviews and podcasts.
“What’s next for me,” Garrett pondered on The Edge with Micah Parsons. “Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP.”
Considering the Browns‘ struggles, those goals may be difficult, as Cleveland finished 5-12 in 2025 and lacked quarterback consistency.
The 2026 season is shaping up under new head coach Todd Monken, whose hiring has stirred controversy. Garrett remains a cornerstone of one of the league’s top defenses but faces the reality that team success may elude him.
Comparisons to peers highlight the frustration: DeMarcus Lawrence left Dallas to reach his first Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, while Garrett continues to excel individually, yet may never have the same chance on the biggest stage with the Browns.
Even as he supports Kim at the Olympics, Garrett‘s focus on football remains evident. His accomplishments in 2025 cemented his elite status, but his mindset signals he won’t stop until he achieves personal and team milestones, regardless of obstacles in Cleveland.
