The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the final teams reporting to 2025 training camp, as players began arriving on Wednesday. There has been a lot of change in the Steel City, which is why the fan base is cautiously optimistic that the organization can make some kind of run with a revamped roster. It will be no easy task in a jam-packed conference, but the AFC North will be the key piece to the puzzle. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are expected to be full of firepower, but it remains to be seen if the Cleveland Browns will find relevance.
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Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski greets Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin near midfield after their teams played against one another in a professional football game in Cleveland, OH.
Since the AFC North was formed heading into the 2002 campaign, it has mainly been controlled by the Steelers and Ravens, with the Bengals having small spurts of success, including a recent Super Bowl appearance. For the Browns, the fan base's claim to fame is defeating Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2020 postseason. Overall, Cleveland only has four campaigns above .500 since 2002. There also was an 0-16 season mixed in back in 2017.
The organization has yet to admit fault in its decision to trade for Deshaun Watson while handing him a fully guaranteed deal worth well over $200 million. He has suffered two separate Achilles tears (on the same foot) in less than 12 months. This has led to the team having five quarterbacks, and no true answer anywhere besides at cornerback in Denzel Ward, and the edge rusher position with Myles Garrett.
Garrett, who requested a trade in the 2025 offseason, ended up staying with the franchise that drafted him because he was offered a massive contract extension. The irony is starting to show, as he told the media at Browns camp that the goal in 2025 is to win a Super Bowl.
Browns DE Myles Garrett: “Expectations are higher than ever. I expect to bounce back from last year. … I expect to get to the Super Bowl … I have to be the very best player I can be every single day, whether we’re practicing or playing.” pic.twitter.com/PqzUNbzbON
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 23, 2025
What's funny about this statement from Garrett is that he quite literally said in a now-deleted social media post that he wanted to be competing for a Super Bowl, and his best chance would be to do so elsewhere.
"While I've loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won't allow me to be complacent," Garrett wrote. "The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl."
No matter how a fan in Cleveland spins it, Garrett requested a trade due to financial reasons, and now his comments back in February shed a bad light on what his true intentions were, and are.
David Richard / AP photo
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (#95) rushes the passer during a game against the Indianapolis Colts in Cleveland.
The Steelers unfortunately have to go up against Garrett twice a year, and there's no doubting that he is a phenomenal player, but no fan with NFL knowledge believes that the Browns can win the Super Bowl in 2025. The quarterback room is a disaster and there is no clear path forward. On top of that, the AFC North is one of the league's toughest divisions, and Cleveland is known for nearly always being in the basement.
Every player, coach and executive is going to try and say the right things, but setting those kind of expectations after comments that were made just six months ago in a trade request is a bit hypocritical. Not only do the Browns have to play the Steelers, Bengals and Ravens twice, but also have the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills on the schedule. Barring something drastic, Cleveland is staring at another high draft pick in 2026.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry hangs out with Head Coach Kevin Stefanski in an office at the team's facility.
Steelers Looking For New Solution To Slowing Down Garrett
Regardless of what the Browns' record ends up being, Garrett is going to put up numbers and get into the backfield. He mainly works in on the quarterbacks' left side, which is why Broderick Jones will have his hands full in Weeks 6 and 17. The lineman is finally making the permanent shift to the left side, and will be one of the more important pieces to the Steelers' offense.
Do you think that Garrett is a hypocrite for his Super Bowl remarks? Let us know in the comments below!
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