For the Cleveland Browns, speed isn’t just a stat line on Sunday afternoons; it’s become a headline-grabbing habit. Just recently, rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was clocked at a jaw-dropping 101 mph. And that was the second speeding ticket in his name. Now, team captain and 4x All-Pro Myles Garrett has found himself in the crossfire of troubles with authorities again. And this time, HC Kevin Stefanski isn’t keeping his disappointment in the slow lane.

The story began to unravel after the Browns’ preseason opener against the Panthers. After Sanders’ NFL debut and the Browns’ first preseason victory, spirits were naturally high. And around 2 a.m., Garrett’s Ferrari was pulled over on Interstate 71 in Strongsville, Ohio, not far from the team’s facility. The citation: 100mph in a 60mph zone, adding another streak in Garrett’s well-documented need for speed. But Coach Stefanski wasn’t having it.

The reporters asked the coach about Garrett’s violation in the latest Browns’ presser. Given his history, the question dropped like a hammer. “Just, I mean, how extra disappointing is that, … coming from a team leader specifically.?” Standing before the press, Kevin Stefanski’s words cut through the room; calm but unmistakably stern. “Extremely disappointing. It’s been addressed with Myles, with the football team. He needs to slow down for his safety and the safety of others.” There was no hint of the usual coach-speak or attempts at damage control. Just a clear warning for his star defender and every player in the locker room.

But for Stefanski, this was more than a traffic ticket. Garrett’s violation comes not just as an individual lapse but as a wake-up call for a leader expected to set the tone. Since being drafted first overall in 2017, Garett has amassed at least 7 speeding citations and was involved in a harrowing rollover accident in 2022 that caused him to miss time with injuries. Coach Stefanski’s message resonates all the more given Garrett’s previous public vow to change his driving habits after the crash. If he’s not following through, the coach may already have a contingency plan in place.

Back when Shedeur Sanders was navigating his own speeding troubles, team officials had moved quickly to remind all players of their responsibilities. GM Andrew Berry was direct: “Not smart. Just not smart. … I think the thing is it’s not just about yourself. It’s not just about having  a joyride…. not about driving a car really fast. It’s about the fact that you can endanger other people.” Sanders, for his part, acknowledged his “poor choices” and promised to learn from the experience. But it seems Myles Garrett wasn’t listening. And now, he has to face the disappointment from the management, along with a fine and possible legal actions.

Myles Garrett’s speeding fine and its ripples

Following the speeding violation, Myles Garrett now faces a fine of $250. If he pays the fine, he can avoid going to court on Thursday, August 14th. For Garrett, the financial penalty is a footnote. $250 amounts to very little against his $40 million-per-year contract. But the real fine may just be reputational, especially for a player who just inked one of the richest deals for a non-QB in NFL history and who also anchors the team as a defensive leader. Further repeated violations could eventually put his driver’s license at risk along with his league standings.

The stark reality: if the pattern of speeding continues unchecked, it invites bigger discipline. Back in 2022, Garrett’s accident led him to a self-imposed reckoning. As he had noted, “This will be definitely a wake-up call for me, just try to be smart overall with driving. Don’t take anything for granted. Be grateful that I’m still able to be here and just take my time.” Three years after the fact, all eyes will now be on whether the Browns’ leadership will enforce a stricter line in the sand.

Stefanski’s actions have turned this from a personal issue into a team-wide lesson with outsized implications for discipline and culture. How the team navigates these trenches will determine the Browns’ prospects. September, still weeks away, is only the beginning. Will the Browns be able to keep themselves in check all the way to the 2025 finish line?