The Pittsburgh Steelers just got a very different version of their biggest rivalry, and fans just got what they've been wanting.
The Cleveland Browns’ blockbuster trade, sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, does not make Cleveland harmless, nor does it erase the physical edge of Steelers-Browns games. But it does remove one of the biggest weekly problems Pittsburgh faced for years.
Garrett was not just Cleveland’s best player. He was the rare defensive force who could wreck an offensive plan before the ball was even snapped. Against the Steelers, every protection call, tackle assignment, and quick-game concept had to account for No. 95.
He changed the math.
Pittsburgh got a massive gift in this trade. They no longer have to build two divisional game plans around the most dangerous edge rusher in football. That is a major break for the Steelers’ offense going forward, especially as they continue trying to stabilize their identity under Mike McCarthy.
Garrett's leaving the AFC North makes life easier for Aaron Rodgers and helps the Steelers' young offensive tackles.
Facing Garrett twice a year was always a headache, no matter the box score or stat line. It could expose technique, timing, and communication issues in a hurry. Without him in Cleveland, Pittsburgh still has to handle a talented Browns front, but the weekly fear factor diminishes.
That does not mean Jared Verse should be dismissed.
At 25, Verse is young, explosive, and already productive. While the Browns have historically made some head-scratching moves -- much to the pleasure of Steelers Nation -- Cleveland didn’t simply move Garrett and walk away without an instant resolution. The Browns landed a legitimate building block who can keep their pass rush competitive, and he gives them a cheaper player with long-term upside.
Still, there is a difference between replacing Garrett’s position and replacing Garrett’s impact.
Myles Garrett trade reshapes the Pittsburgh Steelers-Cleveland Browns rivalry
Garrett forced offenses to treat him like the starting point of the entire defensive plan. Verse may become that kind of player someday, but Pittsburgh would much rather deal with potential than proven dominance. For the Steelers, that’s the key distinction.
The long-term part is more complicated.
Cleveland now has extra draft capital and more flexibility to reshape its roster. That could matter as soon as the 2027 NFL Draft, especially if the Browns use those picks to chase a quarterback or rebuild around a younger core. Pittsburgh cannot view this move as Cleveland waving the white flag.
If anything, the Browns may have accepted that their current build had a ceiling and decided to reset while still getting a high-end defender in return.
There is also a future twist for Pittsburgh. Garrett may be out of the division, but he is not completely off the Steelers’ radar. Pittsburgh is set to welcome the Rams to Acrisure Stadium in 2027, giving the Steelers a chance to see Garrett again in different colors.
That matchup won’t carry the same divisional stakes, but it will still be a game that Steelers fans (and players) circle on the schedule. Garrett spent years as the Browns’ biggest defensive nightmare for Pittsburgh. Seeing him come through Acrisure Stadium with the Rams will definitely feel strange, even if Steelers fans are probably glad it is no longer happening twice a year.
For the Steelers, the present-day benefit is obvious. Their path through the AFC North no longer runs through Garrett twice a season. That changes matchups, protection plans, and the overall pressure on Pittsburgh’s offense in one of the league’s toughest divisions.
The rivalry is still real. The Browns still have talent.
Verse will certainly bring his own set of problems for coordinator Brian Angelichio and the O-line. But Garrett leaving Cleveland is a win for the Steelers, no matter how the Browns try to spin the return.
Add us as a preferred source on Google