Myles Garrett is a nightmare on the field. At 270 pounds, he spent the past NFL season dominating quarterbacks, shattering the single-season sack record with 23, and walking away with a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award.
But on Thursday night in Italy? Garrett wasn’t hunting quarterbacks—he was hunting the perfect shot.
While the world watched Chloe Kim attempt her historic “three-peat,” Garrett emerged as an unlikely viral star, trading his Browns jersey for a custom varsity jacket celebrating Kim’s career. The jacket, featuring a large portrait of Kim and her career milestones, immediately caught online attention. Search interest for similar jackets spiked, and clips of Garrett crouched in the snow, capturing Kim, went viral almost instantly.
Love to see it 🤩
Myles Garrett is rocking a custom Chloe Kim jacket before Kim competes in the women's halfpipe final 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Zb0DSzgdiJ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 12, 2026
The Camera as the Weapon
Garrett spent the evening acting as a personal photographer from the front row. At 6’4”, the defensive powerhouse navigating the snow to capture Kim’s runs created a visually striking contrast—one that social media could not ignore. Videos and images of him adjusting angles, kneeling for the perfect shot, and staying completely engaged amassed millions of views in hours.
A Moment Bigger Than Medals
The night delivered a shock on the podium. Despite competing through a torn shoulder labrum, Kim was edged out by 17-year-old protege Choi Gaon, who delivered a flawless 90.25 run. While the gold went to the rising star, the moment that captured hearts was the embrace between Kim and her protege—a true passing of the torch. Garrett was there in the front row, lens in hand, perfectly framing the human story unfolding before him.
Why This Went Viral
The internet wasn’t reacting to competition stats—it was reacting to energy, presence, and relatability. Garrett, the NFL Sack King, became the “supportive partner” everyone could root for. The combination of high stakes, unexpected crossover, and authentic human connection created a moment perfect for social feeds, TikTok clips, and highlight reels.
The Takeaway
Chloe Kim didn’t secure her third gold, but the night wasn’t about medals—it was about moments. Between Kim’s grace in defeat, Choi Gaon’s rise, and Garrett’s surprisingly viral sideline energy, the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered one of its most human and shareable stories yet.
