NFL fans react as Myles Garrett throws “solid strike” on his first pitch at Dodger Stadium

Just a week after being traded to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal, Myles Garrett is already making an impression in his new city.

On June 1, the Rams acquired the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round selection, and a 2029 third-round pick. Six days later, Garrett found himself in the spotlight at Dodger Stadium.

Wearing a shirt featuring Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Garrett was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday’s game. The All-Pro pass rusher showed out with an impressive strike to Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan, throwing the ball directly over the plate and drawing plenty of attention from fans in attendance and online.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions from fans following Garrett’s first-pitch performance.

“Sign him to a contract dodger asap! 💀 bringing the heat!! 🔥 LFG Rams!!!” one fan said.

“Kobe reincarnated,” another said.

“That was actually a pretty solid strike for a football player! It is fun to watch these athletes from different leagues support each other. Great energy is shown at the stadium today,” one fan added.

“Rams got a pass rusher AND a pitcher — dual‑sport menace unlocked,” one person said.

“As a Browns fan, that makes me weep a bit,” one Browns fan commented.

“Forget Ohtani. Garrett is the true dual threat,” another fan added.

The attention around the Rams has increased since Garrett’s arrival, but the real focus will now be on what he can achieve on the field once the regular season begins.

As a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett is expected to play a major role in Los Angeles’ pursuit of a championship. The Rams will begin that journey on Sept. 7 when they host the San Francisco 49ers in their season opener.

With Super Bowl LXI set to be played at SoFi Stadium next February, expectations in Los Angeles are very high this year, and Garrett’s addition is a big reason why many see the Rams as one of the league’s top contenders.

Myles Garrett’s NFL timeline

Myles Garrett‘s time with the Cleveland Browns has officially come to an end almost a decade after the franchise selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas A&M.

During his nine seasons in Cleveland, Garrett developed into one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation. He recorded 125.5 sacks with the Browns.

Garrett captured his first Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023 after registering 14 sacks and helping lead Cleveland to a playoff appearance. He followed that up with an even more dominant campaign in 2025, winning the award again after setting a new NFL single-season sack record with 23.

Garrett appeared set to spend the foreseeable future in Cleveland after signing a four-year, $160 million extension ahead of the 2025 season. The contract included $123 million guaranteed and a no-trade clause, while its $40 million annual average briefly set a new record for non-quarterbacks across the league.

However, Garrett’s time with the Browns came to an end on June 1, when the star pass rusher officially got traded to the Los Angeles Rams.