Myles Garrett suspended indefinitely for helmet attack in Browns-Steelers fight

There are significant repercussions for the Steelers-Browns brawl on Thursday night.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely for his shocking helmet-swinging outburst, the NFL announced Friday. Pittsburgh’s Maurkice Pouncey and Cleveland’s Larry Ogunjobi also received suspensions for their roles in the fracas, and each organization was fined $250,000.

“Garrett violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules,” NFL’s statement read. “As well as fighting, removing the helmet of an opponent and using the helmet as a weapon.”

Garrett – who was at the center of the fight when he bashed Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph over the head with Rudolph’s helmet – is suspended at a minimum of the remainder of the regular season and postseason without pay. He also has to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement, as well as pay an individual fine.

“Last night, I made a terrible mistake,” Garrett said Friday in a statement. “I lost my cool and what I did was selfish and unacceptable. I know that we are all responsible for our actions and I can only prove my true character through my actions moving forward.

“I want to apologize to Mason Rudolph, my teammates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL. I know I have to be accountable for what happened, learn from my mistake and I fully intend to do so.”

Regardless of whether Garrett’s suspension carries over into the 2020 season, it already marks the longest suspension in NFL history for a single on-field incident. The previous high was five games for Albert Haynesworth in 2006 after the Titans defensive lineman stomped on a helmetless player. Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict is currently serving a 12-game suspension after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 4, but he had a long history of dirty hits that factored into the lengthy punishment.

Pouncey was hit with a three-game suspension without pay and an individual fine as well, for coming to Rudolph’s defense by punching and kicking Garrett. Ogunjobi was suspended for one game without pay with an additional fine after he pushed Rudolph in the back after the quarterback had been pulled away from Garrett. 

“Additional discipline for other players will be forthcoming through the standard accountability process, including those players that left the bench to enter the fight area,” the league statement said.

With just eight seconds left in Cleveland’s 21-7 win on Thursday, Rudolph was taken to the ground by Garrett after throwing a pass to running back Trey Edmunds. Rudolph could be seen jostling with Garrett on the ground and pulling at his helmet before things escalated as they came to their feet.

Pittsburgh offensive tackle Matt Feiler and guard David DeCastro tried to pry the two apart, but Garrett managed to tear Rudolph’s helmet off by his facemask. Rudolph retaliated and stormed after Garrett, who took Rudolph’s helmet and whacked him on the top of his unprotected head.

Garrett addressed the Browns as a team Friday morning to apologize for losing his cool. They were already facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs at 4-6, in a season that began with an excess of hype surrounding them, and now have to carry on without their best defensive player.

“That is a consequence that Myles has, and unfortunately that affects him, it affects us and it affects us as an organization,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens told reporters Friday on a conference call. “On a personal level, that is what I want from Myles is to understand that the ball is in his court on how he responds to this. It is up to him on showing people and showing the National Football League that that is not who he is.”

Rudolph’s agent, Tim Younger, said he would explore legal action against Garrett, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported Friday evening Rudolph had decided against filing charges.

“We are extremely disappointed in what transpired last evening at the end of our game,” Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said in a statement. “There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organization. We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Myles Garrett has been a good teammate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions (Thursday) night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions.”

Rudolph, who suffered a severe concussion earlier in the season, turned around in disbelief with his arms outstretched toward the refs. Once Pouncey saw what happened, he immediately pounced on Garrett, who fell to the turf, and began throwing several punches before repeatedly kicking Garrett in the head.

Ogunjobi then came over and shoved Rudolph to the ground from behind as the brawl continued to escalate. Yellow flags came down from every angle of the field as referees attempted to intervene.

Garrett, Pouncey and Ogunjobi were ejected from the game. Rudolph said he thought Garrett’s hit was “pretty cowardly,” calling it “bush league” but assuring reporters that he felt “fine” after the hit.