In a new episode of Boardroom Talks, Browns standout Myles Garrett discusses his life in Cleveland, his business moves, and his wide-ranging passions on and off the field.
Lids is partnering with Boardroom on the segment “Market Cap” to highlight athletes and entertainers who are building business outside of their day job.
On the field, he’s a 6-4, 275-pound wrecking ball who specializes in making opposing quarterbacks’ lives a living hell. Off of it, he’s a team owner, author, philanthropist, and so much more.
Meet Myles Garrett, the most interesting man in the NFL.
It’s no surprise seeing him doing his thing on the gridiron, having been destined for greatness the second the Cleveland Browns drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. But not many people know Myles Garrett, the person. The man who, in addition to building a business portfolio that rivals just about anyone in the NFL as well as an empire in Cleveland, has as much of a passion for anime as he does hoops.
But no matter what he’s doing, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year always tries to remain grounded.
“I’m not big on creating goals too far into the future. I try to focus on what’s right in front of me,” Garrett said.
In the latest Boardroom Talks episode, Boardroom’s Gabe Oshin sits down with Garrett to discuss it all, from what’s going through his mind on the field to continuing to learn in the business world to his wide-ranging passions that include mental health advocacy, writing children’s books, and … paleontology?
Hoops Head from Day 1
While football is the sport that has put Garrett on the map, basketball will always have a special place in his heart.
“I’ve always had an interest in basketball. It’s been a love since Day 1,” he said.
Myles’ half-brother, Sean Williams, emerged as a star at Boston College in the mid-2000s, and Garrett gravitated toward the sport in his wake. Although his own path took him to the gridiron, his passion for basketball never went away.
And if you’ve been following Garrett throughout his professional career, you’ve likely seen him in numerous basketball videos, whether it’s him showing off his hops in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game for all to see or menacing some poor soul underneath the hoop in a random pickup game. In addition to Garrett’s love for the sport has created opportunities for him to show off his prowess on the court, it’s also opened doors in the business world.
When Garrett got drafted by the Browns, it was only natural that he would want to go to watch the local Cavaliers. It was the tail end of the LeBron & Kyrie-led squads with back-to-back NBA Finals runs in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, during which Garrett says Dan Gilbert and the team would allow him to frequent the suites to catch the games, where he built relationships with important members of the organization.
That all led to the moment nearly a year ago to the day when Myles announced that he had joined the Cleveland Cavaliers ownership group by purchasing a minority stake in the franchise. Garrett is also a team brand ambassador as part of the deal.
“It just materialized naturally over time. It’s always better when it’s face to face, it’s personal, and it means something,” Myles said.
A Businessman Always
Garrett likely learned a thing or two from LeBron James simply by watching him on the court during his Cleveland days, but the NFL player learned even more by studying James’ moves off of it. LeBron is the examplar when it comes to maximizing business, and Myles is taking notice of the way the arguable NBA GOAT has done when it comes to his investment with Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, and his interest in owning an eventual Las Vegas team.
“[I’m] big on sports in general. Basketball was one of the ones that I really prioritized, but I’m also big into soccer. I want to be part of that world as well. … Seeing [LeBron] do that and getting advice from them on how to set myself up to get in those rooms, get into those meetings, and create those relationships. I’ve been completely attentive and trying to be aware to everything that’s in front of me,” Garrett said.
And while soccer has still alluded Myles to this point, he’s dipped his toes into other ownership waters, such as investing in Major League Pickleball‘s Texas Ranchers. With help from his business advisor Shey Olaoshebikan of Klutch Sports Group, with whom he’s worked with since 2019 , Garrett is taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented in the now while also building for the future.
“He’s my partner in crime… We work in tandem and we’re a dynamic duo when it comes to getting it right business-wise,” Garrett said of his relationship with Olaoshebikan.
It’s for that reason that he’s studying the way LeBron moves outside of athletics. But James is just one athlete that Garrett looks to for business inspiration. Garrett has an eye on everybody in the sports business world, taking bits and pieces and applying them to his own career.
One of those people is Magic Johnson, a man with a billion-dollar portfolio that most athletes can only dream of in their post-playing careers. Sports business can be a ruthless space, but Garrett was quick to praise Magic’s demeanor and interactions with those he works with as qualities he aspires to have while at that negotiating table.
“I saw [Magic] treat everyone around him with respect,” Myles said. “He introduced every one of his team members and had a story to tell or a joke with each one of them. They had a smile on their face; you can see the bond they had working with each other day to day. I’m just trying to follow in his footsteps business-wise and hopefully career-wise as well.”
Oh, and don’t forget about Shaquille O’Neal, who Garrett says he interacts with every day. Of former NBA players on the business side now, Shaq may be one of the few who can keep up with — and even surpass — Magic’s money-making portfolio. From Five Guys to Apple to Lyft, O’Neal has his money everywhere and has most recently been spending his time revamping Reebok Basketball as the newly named President.
Garrett knows that having everyone, from LeBron James and Tom Brady to Nicole Lynn and Mark Wahlberg, in his back pocket is a luxury most people don’t get. He’s able to interact with the most business-minded folks out there while absorbing as much information as he can, creating what he calls the “perfect foundation for me to execute and make these decisions with the right state of mind for the betterment of myself and the people around me.”
“I lean on my guys, but I also try to take every meeting I have from financial advisors to tell me exactly where everything is going,” Garrett said. “I don’t want to miss where a cent is going — if it’s coming in or going out — I want to know why and when. I want it explained how every bucket is functioning as far as investments and savings, so I can continue to make the proper decisions for my career and my finances.”
Dragon Ball Z, Dinos & More
Growing up in a sports family, one wouldn’t blame Myles if his life solely consisted of standing on the business required to be a professional athlete. But if that’s all you know about him, then you don’t know Garrett at all.
Sprinkled throughout Garrett’s house for everyone to see is a slew of figurines from the likes of Dragon Ball Z and other anime shows. When asked about their importance to him, he noted, “They have been part of my life since I was a child, before I even knew it was called anime.” Walk upstairs, and you’ll see the defensive end’s giant dinosaur head on display, showing off his love of paleontology, an area he said he’d delve more into if not for football.
Oh, and Garrett is learning Japanese, something he decided he wanted to do after falling in love with the culture of Tokyo during the offseason when he visited to teach technique drills to players in the X League, Japan’s top professional football league.
In combination, it’s easy to see: Garrett is not your average athlete. So, Boardroom asks: What would Myles Garrett be doing if not for football?
“I probably wouldn’t be filmmaking, but I would want to be part of the process somehow. As well as writing books for kids. I’ve always loved children’s books and the profound effects it has on them growing up. I can still remember some of the books that had an effect on me.
“Lastly, I’d probably delve more into paleontology. I … started annoying some paleontologists [during the offseason], and I already have picked out [places] that I want to go do excavations and digs.”
Health is Wealth
Building generational wealth is a common goal among athletes. That’s why Garrett has placed such an emphasis on putting his money in smart places while he’s still playing football and before even turning 30 years old.
But another area that Myles is particularly focused on maintaining and improving as he gets older — his health. Similar to his Cleveland counterpart in LeBron, Garrett is known for being a physical freak of nature whose workouts are borderline torture for the average human. On top of that, he has a team of personal health and performance specialists that help him maintain his peak conditioning, especially during the season.
While he was quick to point out some of the regular things folks think of when it comes to one’s health, such as getting the proper amount of sleep, focusing on your nutrition, and being physically active, Garrett is a huge advocate when it comes to mental health, even partnering with Peloton last May for Mental Health Awareness Month.
“Being healthy is a multitude of things. … Being in the right state of mind, positive self-talk, keeping great company around you, and allowing them to elevate you and not detract you from what you’re aiming to do. Keeping like-minded people around you to keep you progressing you toward your goals,” he said.
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