Before Myles Garrett became a dominant force, Taylor Lewan welcomed the top pick to the trenches with a disrespectful sideline gesture that ignited a multi-year rivalry.
Having consistency on the offensive line is very important, especially when it's a crucial position like left tackle.
The Tennessee Titans had that for many years with former left tackle Taylor Lewan. Lewan was with the Titans from 2014-2022.
Unfortunately, he dealt with injuries towards the end of his Titans' career and was never the same. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2022 and then retired from the NFL shortly after.
Lewan went to three Pro Bowls and even had a chance to get in the head of seven-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett during his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
Garrett was taken No. 1 overall out of Texas A&M in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Browns. After playing in Cleveland from 2017-2025, Garrett was sent to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster trade this offseason.
He joined a recent edition of "New Heights" filmed in Los Angeles.
Comedian and Actor Will Ferrell, U.S. Women's National Team legends Alex Morgan and Kelly O'Hara and former Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth were there along with Garrett.
Garrett was asked about his welcome-to-the-NFL moment and remembered something that happened in the trenches with Lewan. The Titans and Browns played in Week 7 of the 2017 season, with Tennessee winning 12-9 in overtime.
According to Garrett, he lined up across from Lewan at one point in the game, and the Titans' offensive tackle spat in his face.
"I wouldn’t say there was like a play where somebody just whipped my ***, but I remember I was going against Taylor Lewan. It was my first year, and I knew he was bending the rules a little bit, you know, from what I had heard. We line up, and it’s like first and 10, and I line up tight. I know that the run’s coming, they got freaking Derrick Henry at that time. And (Lewan) gets into a stance. He looks at me and spits right in my face.”
Rightfully so, Garrett took offense to the gesture and vowed to get revenge on Lewan the next time they played. Garrett had one sack, one TFL and three total tackles in the 2017 meeting.
“Welcome right to the NFL,” Garrett finished. “And I was like, I promise next time I see you, I’m a whip your ***."
Garrett got his chance for revenge a couple of years later, as the Titans and Browns played again to open the 2019 season in Cleveland. Garrett improved on his stats versus the Titans, going for five total tackles, two sacks and two TFLs, but Marcus Mariota and company opened a can, winning 43-13.
It would be interesting to hear from Lewan on this story to see if it's true. What Lewan did definitely got Garrett fired up.
