The NFL landscape is currently shifting beneath our feet, not because of a last-second touchdown or a playoff-clinching drive, but because of a moment of raw, unadulterated truth delivered from a post-game podium. Following a brutal 31-3 shellacking at the hands of the Chicago Bears—a game that was far more one-sided than the lopsided score suggests—Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett decided he had seen enough. He didn’t just defend his teammate; he went on a full-scale offensive against the media machine that he claims is manufacturing lies to destroy rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

The scene at Soldier Field was one of total dominance for the Bears, led by Caleb Williams, who put on a clinic with 242 yards and two touchdowns. On the opposite side, Shedeur Sanders endured a literal nightmare. Sanders finished with 177 yards, three interceptions, and was sacked five times. To the casual observer or the “hot-take” analyst, the story was simple: Sanders wasn’t ready. But Myles Garrett, with fire in his eyes and the weight of veteran leadership on his shoulders, stepped to the microphone to tell a different, much darker story of organizational failure and media dishonesty.

Garrett’s address was not the typical, bland “we need to play better” speech fans have grown accustomed to. Instead, it was a meticulous takedown of specific narratives. He called out the “lazy and irresponsible” journalism that has permeated the coverage of the Browns this season. According to Garrett, the media has been deliberately twisting facts to create a scapegoat out of a young man who is navigating one of the most dysfunctional situations in modern NFL history.

One of the most powerful points Garrett made involved the blatant double standard between the coverage of Caleb Williams and Shedeur Sanders. Garrett pointed out that when Williams struggled early in the season, the narrative was filled with “grace and patience.” Analysts talked about “growing pains” and the need for better weapons around him. However, when Sanders faces an even worse offensive line and a coaching staff in total flux, the narrative shifts immediately to questioning his mental toughness and talent. “It’s complete and utter nonsense,” Garrett stated, highlighting that no quarterback—veteran or rookie—could succeed behind a line that allows a hit in under two seconds.

The “lies” Garrett referred to were specific and damning. He addressed reports claiming Sanders was making mental errors or holding the ball too long. Garrett countered these claims by citing film study, which shows Sanders getting hit almost immediately after the snap, leaving him zero time to go through progressions. He also pointed out the physical toll: Sanders has been obliterated by injuries and sacks, yet he continues to get back up, never making excuses or throwing his teammates under the bus. This character, Garrett argues, is being ignored in favor of viral “clickbait” headlines.

Context, as they say, is everything. Garrett emphasized the brutal weather conditions in Chicago—temperatures in the 20s with high wind gusts—that made throwing the ball an Olympic-level feat. While Williams and the Bears practice in these elements daily, Sanders and the Browns were thrust into the “Windy City” freezer with a depleted roster. Yet, the media chose to ignore these environmental factors, instead focusing on “poor ball placement” as if the wind wasn’t a factor.

Beyond the field, the organizational chaos within the Browns has been a silent killer. From firing a head coach mid-season to a toxic locker room culture where veteran players are openly questioning the front office, Sanders is essentially playing in a house on fire. Garrett’s defense of his quarterback serves as a lighthouse in this storm. By using his massive platform to call out media dishonesty, Garrett is not only protecting Sanders’ mental health but also demanding a return to journalistic integrity.

The psychological toll on a 22-year-old achieved his dream only to be met with boos at home and “trial-by-media” every week is immense. Garrett noted that Sanders is effectively “playing not to lose” rather than “playing to win” because the margin for error has been removed by a media hungry for the next controversy. Greats like Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman had horrific rookie seasons, but they were given the room to grow. Garrett is asking why that same courtesy isn’t being extended to the young man in Cleveland.

This moment feels like a turning point. It is a rare instance where a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate risks his own reputation to shield a rookie from the “annihilation” of public opinion. Garrett’s message was clear: judge the performance, but don’t manufacture the narrative. As the Browns head into the final weeks of a disastrous season, the focus has shifted from the scoreboard to the soul of the team. Will the media heed Garrett’s warning, or will they continue to prioritize clicks over the career of a young athlete? One thing is certain: Myles Garrett has drawn a line in the sand, and he isn’t backing down.