Round 2 of Myles Garrett and Tristan Wirfs will happen in 2026

One of the most anticipated individual matchups on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ 2026 schedule won’t be a divisional rivalry or a playoff rematch. Instead, it will come in Week 17 when All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs lines up across from star pass rusher Myles Garrett and the Los Angeles Rams.

Despite both players being considered among the best in football at their respective positions for years, their history against one another is surprisingly limited. In fact, Wirfs and Garrett have faced off just once during their NFL careers.

That lone meeting came on November 27th, 2022, when the Buccaneers traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns. Tampa Bay ultimately fell 23-17 in overtime, with Garrett playing a major role as the former overall pick finished the game with two sacks as Cleveland’s defense pressured Tom Brady throughout the afternoon and shut down the Buccaneers’ offense late in the contest.

While Garrett won the statistical battle that day, the circumstances surrounding the matchup were much different than what fans will see in 2026. Wirfs was still playing right tackle at the time and had yet to make the transition to the left side that would elevate him into another tier of NFL offensive linemen. Since then, Wirfs has developed into arguably the league’s top offensive tackle. The former Iowa standout became the first player in NFL history to earn First Team All-Pro honors at both right tackle and left tackle, establishing himself as one of the game’s most dominant pass protectors.

Garrett, meanwhile, has continued building a Hall of Fame-caliber resume of his own.

The six-time All-Pro remains one of the NFL’s most feared defenders, combining elite speed, power, and athleticism to consistently rank among the league leaders in sacks and quarterback pressures. With Garrett now in Los Angeles following his blockbuster trade to the Rams, Buccaneers fans will finally get another chapter in a matchup that has been years in the making. Four years after their only meeting, two of the NFL’s elite players are set to square off once again with plenty on the line as the regular season winds down.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Tristan Wirfs will be looking to get one back against Myles Garrett