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Myles Garrett’s Recent Campus Visit Revealed a Side of Him Not Seen on the Field
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- Myles Garrett’s Recent Campus Visit Revealed a Side of Him Not Seen on the Field
Myles Garrett's visit to Hampton University carried a personal connection beyond his work as an NFL star. The Cleveland Browns defensive end joined Johnson Energy Storage CEO Brandon Martin for a discussion with students about STEM education, leadership and opportunities beyond athletics before making a contribution to his mother's alma mater.
Garrett donated $25,000 to the Virginia-based historically Black university during the visit in May 2025. The gift honored his mother, Audrey Garrett, who attended Hampton on a track scholarship and earned All-American honors during her collegiate career.
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Audrey also graduated with a degree in communications and continued her academic journey through doctoral studies in strategic leadership. She is affiliated with Southern University Law Center and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her achievements in education and athletics helped shape the family legacy that Garrett celebrated through the contribution.
The visit also gave Garrett an opportunity to encourage students to explore interests beyond sports. During the panel discussion, he spoke about the importance of personal growth, mentorship and remaining open to learning new things.
"Continue to diversify and pursue things that are authentic to yourself. Love what you do. Find what you are passionate about," Garrett said in comments reported by 13 News Now and published by ClutchPoints .
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Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The donation also highlighted Garrett's connection to historically Black colleges and universities. His contribution was reported by Black Enterprise's coverage of the Hampton University gift , which detailed his mother's history at the institution and the reason behind his visit.
Garrett has also built an impressive athletic career of his own. Selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2017 NFL Draft after playing at Texas A&M, he became one of the league's leading defensive players. He earned the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and reached 100 career sacks during the 2024 season.
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His $25,000 contribution offered a personal way to recognize the university that helped shape his mother's journey. It also gave Hampton students an opportunity to hear directly from an athlete who believes education, curiosity and personal development extend well beyond the playing field.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
