CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some Browns fans were so devastated to see star defensive end Myles Garrett publicly request a trade Monday morning that they decided to do something about it.
About 20 fans gathered outside of Huntington Bank Field on Monday evening and showed up with signs showing their displeasure for the state of the team.
Noah Schaefer, a long-time Browns fan and content creator, said he decided enough was enough and organized the protest.
“I figured we can just kind of use our platforms to get people out here, voice their frustration, and it’s better than spending $225 on the ticket every single Sunday, just to boo and be disappointed,” Schaefer said. “We figured (we’d) come out here, it’s a free event, make your signs and do all that stuff, and put the world on notice that we want Myles to stay and change needs to happen.”
Schaefer advertised the protest via his channels on Instagram and X, calling for those frustrated with the organization to come out at 5 p.m. Monday, hours after Garrett’s request.
Schaefer said he was pleased with the turnout, especially given the fast turnaround from Monday morning’s news.
Anybody out here making signs and voicing their displeasure is good enough for me,” Schaefer said. “That’s the entire point of this and hopefully it reaches the people upstairs, and up in Berea and something can happen.”
Schaefer says he was surprised to at first to see the trade request, but understood the reasoning.
“At the time, yeah. But with the way this season has gone, I’m like, ‘I don’t blame you, Myles. You’ve got to go win a Super Bowl, and that is not happening here at this point,’ ” Schaefer said.
Asked whether the purpose of protest was Garrett’s trade request or the Browns’ 3-14 record this season, Shaefer says it’s a mix. A native of Columbus, Schaefer has always worn the orange and brown, and thanks to his parents being season ticket holders, he’s seen it all in person.
Schaefer feels the higher-ups may not listen to him and others, but the fans would like to be heard.
“At the end of the day, we’re just people. I know they’re not really gonna listen to us, but I need somebody to listen. I’m tired of spending $250 for tickets. I’m tired of turning on the TV and being disappointed,” Schaefer said. “I’m tired of spending merch just for nothing.
“It’s got to change, whatever it may be. Firings, just simple personnel changes, whatever it is, it’s got to change.”
