(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: Myles Garrett’s appearance at the news conference officially welcoming him to the Rams took place at the team’s Training Facility on Tuesday, 6/2. This moment marked a proud milestone for the team, as they introduced Garrett to Rams’ Nation and the broader public. He will now don the Rams’ new uniform and brand refresh, emphasizing his status as one of the NFL’s premier defensive stars in this era. After getting comfortable at the Facility, Garrett was escorted to meet with various media representatives from local, regional, and national outlets gathered for this significant event.

Garrett sat directly between General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay. When it was time to start, Mr. Snead delivered the opening statement, and the conference began in earnest with numerous questions directed at all three, though most were primarily for the newest Rams superstar.

This is the transcript of the conference delivered by the team’s Communications Staff, offering valuable insights from this first media opportunity featuring the trio together. We encourage all Rams fans to read it thoroughly, whether all at once or gradually, to comprehend #95 Myles Garrett’s views and expectations about his new role on the team.

 Rams Transcripts – Head Coach Sean McVay, General Manager Les Snead, Edge Myles Garrett – 6/2/26 Tuesday

Head Coach Sean McVay, General Manager Les Snead and Edge Myles Garrett

(Opening Statement)
[Snead]: “How did we did we end up with (DE) Myles Garrett sitting between (Head Coach) Sean (McVay) and myself? I think when Sean and I first met for the first time to talk about the offseason, we did discuss how we can add to the defense. That started with the trade with (CB) Trent McDuffie, adding (CB) Jaylen (Watson). I think when we get to, in Myles’ case, and I’ll keep this brief, when Cleveland made the adjustment to his contract, not sure if it was a signal, they made an adjustment. I’ve got a good relationship with (Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager) Andrew Berry. I thought I’d just check in, you know? Let’s check in. Obviously, Myles and his standing with the…He’s a Cleveland Brown. He’s on their Mount Rushmore so they were a no, but Andrew and I have a good relationship. We like talking about football a good bit so I would pester him a little bit, probably jokingly at first, kept doing that. And then we began talking a little more seriously about it. We tried to do this with draft compensation. Then the draft came and went. We picked talks back up and we tried to discuss more draft compensation. At the end of the day, and where it got a little tough for us, is they asked for (Former Rams DE) Jared Verse in return. And similarly to what Cleveland did at first, we were a no based on all that Jared’s done for our organization. During May, we kept trying. We tried to work things out, tried to figure out a solution, but as the June 1st date was getting closer, probably sometime late May there into that weekend, we had a decision to make. We knew where Cleveland stood. They knew where we stood and then we proceeded to make the trade. And with all of this, I can say because I know Josh (Kroenke) is here, (Rams Chairman and Owner) Stan (Kroenke), I do think this. When you make a move like this, having the ecosystem that Stan, Josh, his family provides for us to be able to do something like this out of the box a little bit as free agency had come and gone, that’s always a very positive thing and at the end of the day, we were able to agree and we’re jacked here.”

[McVay]: “So much for being brief, Les (laughs). I’m just kidding. Here’s what I will say, though. It’s a rare opportunity and it’s challenging because when you look at being able to acquire a player like this, these things don’t come up often. When you do have a chance, you’re saying, ‘Hey, can we have the best of both where you’re able to get Myles and still keep a player that you love that’s been an instrumental part of the last couple years? That was the hardest part of this decision, parting ways with somebody that we love and care about. Wish him the best in Cleveland and he’s done an amazing job for us each of the last couple years, brought an energy, a production level of toughness, but the opportunity to be able to get a chance to be able to work alongside Myles…He knows the respect and reverence I’ve had for his game. Just getting to know him over the course of his career and my coaching career and we feel like he can upgrade our football team. He’s going to make a great impact. The important stuff for us was number one, you have (Special Teams Coordinator) Bubba Ventrone in the building and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Kyle Hoke that can speak to what a great teammate he is and where you really see it on a daily basis. One of my favorite things I saw about this guy was when he gets the sack record, it wasn’t the fact that he got his 23rd sack. Watch the teammates celebrate and how happy they were around him. That tells me a lot about him. He’s a pain in the ass to game plan against and I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore. He makes other guys around him better and I know he’s excited to come in and be a big part of this culture and we can’t wait to get to work. But it’s an exciting time while also, there was a part of it where you wish Jared Verse the best. But we’re excited about this guy and he’s why we’re here and look forward to hearing from him.”

[Snead]: “Hey Myles, just for the record, Bubba did say you’d play gunner for him.”

[McVay]: “And I said, no.”

Garrett]: “He did tell me that I owed him at least one game at gunner so we’ll see about that. But I’m very excited and I want to thank you, Sean, Les and the Kroenke family for making this happen. Very excited to be here. It’s an honor and a blessing to be in this building. I have a lot of respect for all the guys here from the coaching staff, management and many of the players that I’ve got to see firsthand. It’s a very quality team, quality business and I like the way things operate and I’m looking forward to helping bring a championship here to L.A.”

(On how he feels coming to Los Angeles knowing that a lot of the team’s success is going to depend on him)
[Garrett]: “That’s always been my role since I stepped foot into the NFL so nothing changes for me. No, I don’t feel any pressure to be anything else or be anything different. As long as I’m myself and I come here to work every day and I’m a leader, the success will follow.”

(On when he found out about the trade and what his first reaction was)
[Garrett]: “I found out about a week ago that this was even a possibility. It was a surprise. It was a bit of excitement. Being in L.A., I have a lot of roots here and knowing that there’s a winning culture and some great teammates and great coaches here, I was definitely looking forward to the opportunity and God willing, it happened.”

[Snead]: “You know, Myles had a no-trade clause. I remember asking Andrew after about a month of talking, ‘Hey, I know Myles has a no-trade clause. Are we going to have gone through all this and he’s going to say no?’ (laughs).”

(On how he feels going from a work in progress team to a team that’s favored to win the Super Bowl)
[Garrett]: “I mean, every team’s a work in progress. On paper, I’m sure things look great but we got to go out there and put the work in. It starts in the field, starts in the classroom, and we’re not going to take a single day for granted. We’re not going to be looking at any odds or favorites. We’re going to win each game day-by-day.”

(On his impression of the defense, specifically the pass rush)
[Garrett]: “It’s already very solid all around. We have very talented guys at each position and that’s not just in my room. Getting guys like Trent McDuffie, that was a big acquisition as well. I think it’s very talented from the top to the bottom.”

(On his day today and what it’s been like since he touched down in L.A.)
[Garrett]: “I don’t even remember half my day (laughs). I hopped on a plane, first thing that happened was I hopped into a truck, went to get a physical, some testing, and now I’m here. It’s been ripping and running since.”

(On whether there’s a possibility former Rams DT Aaron Donald comes out of retire to join forces with Garrett)
[McVay]: “ Listen, if he’s interested, there is no… here’s what I’ll say. You talk to Aaron and you see what he’s saying about that. Here’s what I would tell you guys overall too, Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with and I know the respect that he has for Myles. Talk to him about the opportunity to be able to bring him on board. If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip. But, here’s what I would tell you guys too. The one thing that’s great about Myles is we’re not going to ask him to do anything other than be himself, take it a day at a time, and be totally and completely present. You guys remember who the Super Bowl favorites were before last season, right? No, you don’t. Nobody remembers. Okay, so the point I’m making is, hey, it’s a fun narrative right now but we’re going to be inside out. We’re going to earn it every single day. We had our first 11-on-11 today and there was a lot of growth that we need to be able to have as a football team and we’re excited to get him in here learning the different things that we’ll ask of him. But we believe that he can impact the team in a significant way by being himself. Then there’s a lot of other guys. It’s the greatest team sport that there is. I’m really excited about our team coming together because that’s what every single year is about. That happens one day at a time. We’ll finish up this offseason program where it’s this week, the following week, and then we’ll come back for training camp and we’ve got to be ready to rock. Then the goal will be to be able to peak when we start in Australia. Hopefully we’re fortunate to stay healthy and continue to build and adjust and adapt as we go but it’s a long journey. We’ve got to be able to handle it but most important is the caliber of people. How do we come together? How do we establish what this team really looks like? We are fortunate to have a lot of continuity, and there’s excitement being able to add a player like that. It’s one day at a time and I love everything that he said because I couldn’t be more in agreement. We’re not going to let the outside narratives affect our ability to be courageous every single day and go swing and see what the hell happens.”

(On the strategy that goes into short-term team building and long-term team building)
[Snead]: “You’re always threading that needle, but I think once we get to this time of year, the season is looming. It becomes the main thing, the more important thing, what you weigh the most. So, you’re always threading that needle for sustainability, trying to win consistently. That’s a hard one to thread.”

(On whether Lakers’ player LeBron James has reached out to him and what kind of advice he’s given him over the course of his career)
[Garrett]: “I’m not sure, honestly. I’ve gotten a whole bunch of calls and texts. I’ve already missed a call from coach earlier on just as my phone’s been blowing up. He’s been a positive force in my life. Just giving me advice when he can as far as transition, always trying to work through different situations and earlier on in my career. I’m sure we’ll have some more conversations now being in the same city so we’ll see. But I haven’t got to talk to him yet.”

(On what it means to have his agent Nicole Lynn take care of his business while he focuses on football)
[Garrett]: “It’s amazing knowing that I don’t have to really have a large role in that. I know she’s going to handle my business and have my best interest at heart. I have no lack of trust in her or anyone on my team so it’s a blessing to have her in my corner. I know she’s always going to do right by myself and my family. She’s made this possible as well as Les and Sean.”

[Snead]: “I will say this for Nicole. We wouldn’t have been able to get this done without us working pretty tirelessly since the weekend. We didn’t have a lot of time to discuss contract but thank you, Nicole.”

(On his thoughts and impressions of this Rams team from afar)
[Garrett]: “Just talented. They love playing the game and they love playing the game for this guy McVay. That means a lot, having a player’s coach lead you onto that field and wanting to give the extra effort and go the extra mile for him and for each other. That’s what you feel going on to that field now. These guys are going to war, not just as individuals but as a team. That’s how you end up playing those games later into the year.”

(On what it was that made him waive his no-trade clause to be sent to the Rams)
[Garrett]: “Well, since the very beginning it’s always been about winning and it just breaks down to the timing of everything. What does it realistically look like to be a winner now and to have an opportunity to do that immediately? That was an opportunity that was just too difficult to pass up. I always have love in my heart for Cleveland, the city, the community, all it’s players and everything else. But the opportunity to come here and have an immediate and profound impact on this team, it was something I just had to move forward with.”

(On whether he had to sleep on the idea of leaving Cleveland to join the Rams or whether it was an immediate yes)
[Garrett]: “No, I definitely had to sleep on it. I don’t take my time in Cleveland for granted. I did love being there. My family had become really a part of the community. I definitely had started to plant roots there, my home, just becoming friends with all the people in your neighborhood, getting to know people and getting out and just feeling like this is your second home. Stuff like that, it tears at you to leave and to now break away but that’s just a part of the things you learn and you have to adjust as you grow up and learn that you have to move on.”

(On coming to a city that is hosting the Super Bowl and to a team that will play in seven primetime games this season)
[Garrett]: “I mean, games no matter what time they are, they’re still just the same old game so I’m not worried whether they’re played at one o’clock on Sunday or Thursday night or Sunday night. It makes no difference to me. We still have to show up and be who we’re supposed to be.”

(On what ultimately made him believe this was the right decision to part ways with Verse)
[McVay]: “I think number one, you really let the tape guide and it’s hard when to be able to get something great, unfortunately, we had to give up something great. I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers, but when you do look at the body of work, what you envision in terms of the fit. How that can help the other 10 guys around? What are the different types of things that he elicits attention wise? Where are some opportunities that we can free him up or that he can offer opportunities for other guys to get the man’s side of the protection or to be able to do some of those different types of things. It was really the tape and ultimately, sometimes we have to be able to make decisions that are best for the collective. This is what we thought was best for our team. Even though it affected somebody that’s been a significant part in a negative way that we do love. But really it was a football decision and that’s what guides our overall approach and our compass, if you will. The first thing in the prerequisite was this is a special human, it’s not a special player. Yes, he’s a special player, obviously, but it’s a special person and special teammate. Those are the things that we look at first and foremost and being able to welcome him with open arms. We’re excited to have him be a huge part of this culture.”

(On if he had a conversation with Jared Verse before the trade)
[McVay]: “I did, yeah.”

(On what he told him)
[McVay]: “What would you guess I told him? We talked to him about the appreciation, the gratitude. I think when you have to have those hard conversations, you just let him know. ‘We just executed a trade where we’re acquiring Myles Garrett and your going to Cleveland. I know it doesn’t feel great right now, but there’s a lot of love. There’s a lot of appreciation and gratitude for our relationship, the two years and the impact that you’ve made. I can’t wait to watch you go shine in Cleveland.’ But I will say this, what a stud with the way that he handled it. I don’t want to say that I was surprised, but I was so impressed. When Jordan and Christian eventually go through a challenging conversation, I hope they handle it the way that Jared Verse did. I’m a big fan of his. I know you guys know that. I’ll wish him the best and watch him do his thing but we are really excited, with respect to Jared, about being able to get this guy. It’s a big deal for us.”

(On if he had a conversation with DT Poona Ford about wearing number 95)
[Garrett]: “It was just a conversation.”

[McVay]: “A conversation and a couple bucks.”

[Garrett]: “Maybe more than a couple (laughter). He was open to it and I understood that there had been some other trades before me so I based my decision off of that. He understood and I’m glad to be sticking with 95.”

(On if there will be a no snowboarding clause in his contract)
[Garrett]: “I don’t think I have the balance to snowboard anyway even if there wasn’t. But yeah, there is.”

(On what the days leading up to the trade were like)
[McVay]: “I think the biggest thing when you’re doing that is you’re going through what are the exact parameters? You knew you had an opportunity to be able to execute it but like we said, there were certain things that we had to get finalized with Andrew (Berry) in Cleveland to be able to figure out exactly what it gets done with as far as what the execution and agreement terms would be. But we were excited and now it’s about being able to get to work. I think this is all fun and it’s obviously a big deal and our players are really excited to be able to welcome Myles. Now I know he’s just like me and he’s excited to get to work and figure out how we can be able to do some cool stuff together.”

(On the possibility of the defense playing with leads and having known pass rush situations with a QB like Matthew Stafford)
[Garrett]: “That did play into the decision as well. Knowing I’ll have the ability late in games to pin my ears back, not just because we need a play to be made, but because we have the lead and its obvious passing downs. Being able to make plays to win the game for us, those are things that appeal to me and I’m sure appeal to all of us as D-linemen. That is something I really look forward to.”

(On when he anticipates hitting the field)
[Garrett]: “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

(On the reaction from the team when they were informed of the trade)
[McVay]: “Respectful to a teammate they love and excited to be able to add a really special player. All of our guys, we’re fans of this game too so there’s a respect and appreciation for the body of work, how he’s gone about it, what he’s done so there’s a lot of excitement. Then there were a lot of honest feelings for Jared. But guys were excited to be able to get him here and get to work so guys are fired up.”

(On their reaction when Cleveland finally agreed to the trade)
[Snead]: “The reaction was ‘Okay, finality,’ that was Sunday. We needed to get through Monday. We knew there was going to be some tough conversations and then you just execute the trade form there. ‘Finally’ would be the word.”

[McVay]: “There were a lot of discussions about it. You guys know me, I’m not the most patient person in the world so until it became a reality… to be able to add players like this is so rare for opportunities that present themselves. This feels very similar when we were fortunate enough to be able to acquire a player like Matthew Stafford. Things like this don’t present themselves and we wanted to be aggressive and ask him to be nothing more than Myles Garrett and continue to improve and come in here. But it was a long wait until it was actually official. There were things that we had to be able to figure out in terms of what we were going to give but we’re excited that we are here now and we’re ready to get to work.”

(On his connections to Los Angeles and how he wants to be a part of LA sports history)
[Garrett]: “I definitely recall watching film of the ‘Fearsome Foursome’ with Deacon Jones. I actually grew up watching them in high school once I really started watching and playing the game. I’m definitely very aware. As far as my ties to the city, my dad is from LA so that’s an obvious tie. (Girlfriend) Chloe (Kim), her being from here and us being in the same city is something that I love and appreciate. Everything else, it’s really just looking forward to the future, looking to plant my own roots and see what comes of this. We’ll see how long LBJ (LeBron James) is around here. I’m not sure what his future looks like, but if he wants to stay around for a couple more years, I know they will accept him with open arms but there’s only so long he can play.”

(On what he looks forward to most about adding to the legacy of great pass rushers to play in a Rams uniform)
[Garrett]: “I see a position to solidify myself here as well among the greats. I still have plenty of great years in front of me and being able to cement that legacy not only as a football city here in LA, but as an individual for a Super Bowl and more. Those things are definitely pressing on my mind and I have a bit of urgency to do it and do it right away.”

–RAMS–