Myles Garrett Returns to the Field with a Ray Charles Soundtrack

Myles Garrett stood in the Los Angeles Rams locker room in Landover, Maryland, on Sunday afternoon, letting the blues music of Ray Charles fill the space around him. The moment marked a sharp turn in his season. He had just finished a 20-13 victory over Washington, a game that capped two months of frustration and recovery from a knee injury.

Garrett’s performance on the field mirrored the relief in his ears. He recorded three sacks and a forced fumble, demonstrating the physical impact he had missed for nearly eight weeks. For a player who had spent the previous fall sidelined, the return to active duty carried a weight that extended beyond the scoreboard.

The choice of music was personal and deliberate. Garrett explained that he usually listens to blues or soul after games. “I’ve been listening to Ray since I can remember listening to music. That’s what my mother and my grandpa put me on to,” he said. The specific track playing, “Hard Times,” seemed to reflect the difficult path back to health.

When asked to identify his two favorite songs by Charles, Garrett named “You Are My Sunshine” and “Leave My Woman Alone.” The selection of the former appeared symbolic for a player who had recently endured a period of professional difficulty. The victory and the accompanying music signaled a shift from struggle to stability.

The Rams’ win in Maryland was not just a point on the schedule; it was a milestone for Garrett. His ability to generate pressure on the quarterback indicated that his knee had healed enough to withstand the rigors of the sport. As the final whistle blew, the soundtrack in his head had finally matched the reality on the field.