READY TO ROLL
At Garrett’s suggestion, the
D&D group dubbed itself the
Heathens, and they meet
regularly at the tackle’s house.14 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS
MYLES GARRETT was on a
mission. Soon after he reported
to Browns training camp in late
July, the edge rusher, displaying
a level of urgency ordinarily
reserved for the pursuit of
doomed quarterbacks, tracked
down teammate Johnny Stanton
with a burning question: Hey, so,
when are we gonna start up again?
Garrett was referring to
Dungeons & Dragons. Stanton is
a reserve fullback who doublesSorcery
Just Call
Him Alucard
as a dungeon master (DM),
serving up a fantasy saga of
puzzles to solve, people to
save, and bloodthirsty baddies
to slay. The regular game he
oversees includes Garrett, All-Pro
Browns guard Wyatt Teller, and
several friends.D&D experience, the
DM began by helping
everyone choose
characters. Prioritizing
stealth over strength,
Garrett built a half-elf
rogue assassin named
Garrett the Gray, a
nod to both Gandalf
and Will the Wise. Teller, too,
was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien
in creating Flapper, a lumbering
half-orc berserker barbarian with
meaty hands and a habit of flying
into rages during battle.
This year Garrett decided heILLUSTRATION BY ARIK ROPER; ALEX PREWITT (2)wanted a new character, so Garrett
the Gray nobly sacrificed himself to
save the rest of the gang, who then
picked up Garrett’s new character:
Alucard, a half-vampire.
Garrett had no experience with
D&D, but in 2020, Stanton saw himwhether Garrett had ever
considered playing, like
the kids on the show.
“I might be into trying
it,” Garrett replied.
It’s since turned into
a bonding experience
unlike any across the
NFL, even if the mere
mention of the game
triggers some chuckles
in stodgier corners of the Browns’
locker room. Says Teller, “Moments
you spend together are more
important than guys being like, ‘Hey,
what are you doing playing D&D?’
Well, it’s fun. It’s different, but it’s a
good time.” —Alex PrewittFerocious on the field,
Myles Garrett is scary
at the D&D table, too.