You think you know who owns the title for the most sacks in the NFL, right? You probably picture Michael Strahan gap-toothed and grinning after a "slide" from Brett Favre, or maybe T.J. Watt’s relentless motor in Pittsburgh. But as of January 2026, the history books just got a massive rewrite.
If you haven't been watching the Cleveland Browns lately, you missed something historic. Myles Garrett didn't just have a good year in 2025; he turned the single-season record into his own personal playground.
The New King of the Single-Season Hill
For years, the number was 22.5. Strahan hit it in 2001. Watt matched it in 2021. It felt like a ceiling. Then came the 2025 season. Myles Garrett, a guy who looks like he was built in a lab to destroy offensive tackles, finally stayed healthy for a full 17-game slate.
He didn't just tip the record over. He smashed it.
Garrett finished the 2025 regular season with 23 sacks. He secured the record-breaker in Week 18 against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. It wasn't some cheap coverage sack, either. He beat a double team, dipped his shoulder, and basically teleported into the backfield. Honestly, it’s the kind of season we’ve been waiting for from him. He had three games with at least three sacks and a ridiculous five-sack explosion against the Patriots in Week 8.
Here is how the top of the single-season mountain looks now:
- Myles Garrett (2025): 23.0
- T.J. Watt (2021): 22.5
- Michael Strahan (2001): 22.5
- Justin Houston (2014): 22.0
- Jared Allen (2011): 22.0
Why the All-Time Record is Actually a Lie
Okay, "lie" might be a bit strong. But it's complicated.
The NFL didn't start counting sacks as an official statistic until 1982. This means guys like Deacon Jones—the man who literally invented the term "sack"—don't show up at the top of the "official" lists. If you look at the official NFL record, Bruce Smith is the GOAT with 200.0 career sacks.
Smith was a freak. He played 19 seasons and had 13 years with double-digit sacks. That kind of longevity is basically impossible in the modern NFL where bodies break down by age 30. Reggie White is right behind him with 198.0.
But if you use "unofficial" data (the stuff researchers like John Turney and Nick Webster spent years digging through game film to find), the list changes. Deacon Jones reportedly had 173.5 sacks. If his numbers counted, he’d be third all-time.
There's also Al Baker. In 1978—four years before the stat was official—he allegedly had 23 sacks in a single season as a rookie for the Detroit Lions. For decades, fans argued he was the real record holder. Garrett hitting 23 in 2025 finally puts that "official vs. unofficial" debate to bed for the single-season crown, but the career list remains a bit of a historical mess.
The Active Legends Chasing Ghosts
Who’s actually left on the field that can catch Bruce Smith? Honestly? Probably nobody.
Von Miller is the active leader, currently sitting around 138.5 sacks. He’s moved around a lot—Denver, LA, Buffalo, and now the Washington Commanders. At 36 years old, he’d need five more seasons of elite production to sniff 200. It’s not happening.
Then you’ve got the "younger" guys:
- Cam Jordan: 132.0 (Relentless, but the clock is ticking in New Orleans)
- Myles Garrett: 125.5 (At only 30 years old, he’s the only one with a realistic, albeit slim, shot)
- T.J. Watt: 115.0 (He’s the most efficient, but injuries are always the concern)
Garrett is the name to watch. By the end of 2025, he’s already moved into the top 20 all-time. If he can average 15 sacks for the next five years—which sounds insane but he just did 23—he’d be right there.
The Seven-Sack Game: A Record That Won't Die
We talk about seasons and careers, but the single-game record is the most "video game" stat in the league. On November 11, 1990, Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs recorded 7.0 sacks in a single game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Seven.
To put that in perspective, many "good" NFL pass rushers don't get seven sacks in a whole year. Thomas was unblockable that day. The crazy part? He almost had an eighth. On the final play of the game, Dave Krieg (the Seahawks QB) escaped Thomas's grasp and threw a game-winning touchdown. Thomas still talks about that missed eighth sack as the one that haunts him.
Since then, a few guys have hit six. Khalil Mack did it in 2023. Osi Umenyiora did it back in 2007. But nobody has touched seven.
What it Takes to Get the Most Sacks
It's not just about being fast. It’s about the "toolbox."
When you watch the guys with the most sacks in the NFL, they all have a "signature." For Bruce Smith, it was a lightning-fast first step and a dip-and-rip move. For Reggie White, it was the "hump move"—he would literally throw a 300-pound man out of the way with one arm.
Modern guys like Garrett and Watt use a lot of "cross-chop" techniques. They're trying to keep the offensive lineman's hands off their chest. Once a tackle touches your chest, the rep is usually over.
You also have to be a bit of a nerd. Garrett is known for studying the "get-off" times of offensive linemen. He knows if a tackle leans back on his heels by half an inch, he's probably pulling or pass-blocking. That tiny bit of info is the difference between a sack and a "pressured the QB" stat.
The "17-Game" Asterisk
Purists love to complain. They'll tell you Garrett's 23 sacks shouldn't count the same as Strahan's 22.5 because Strahan did it in 16 games.
But wait. Strahan's record was also "tainted" because the league moved from 14 games to 16 in 1978. If we only cared about 14-game seasons, Deacon Jones would be the undisputed king.
The game evolves. Athletes get better. The training is better. Yeah, they play more games now, but offensive linemen are also bigger and faster than they were in 1990. A sack in 2026 is just as hard to get as one in 1985. Maybe harder, considering how fast QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson get rid of the ball.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re tracking sack leaders for your fantasy league or just trying to sound smart at the bar, keep these things in mind:
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- Watch the Schedule: Sacks are highly dependent on the opponent. If a top-tier rusher is facing a team with a rookie tackle or a "statue" quarterback (a guy who doesn't move well), that's when the multi-sack games happen.
- Pressure vs. Sacks: Don't just look at the sack column. Look at "Quarterback Hits" and "Pressures." Often, a guy will have a "down" year with only 8 sacks, but he had 40 pressures. That usually means he’s due for a massive statistical explosion the following year.
- The "Other" Guy: Sacks often come in pairs. Myles Garrett is great, but he gets more sacks when there is a decent rusher on the other side. If the offense can't double-team both guys, someone is going home with a sack.
The record for the most sacks in the NFL is finally sitting with the man most people consider the best athlete at the position. Myles Garrett at 23 is the new gold standard. Whether he can catch the 200-mark set by Bruce Smith is the next great saga of the NFL's defensive history.
If you're following the 2026 season, keep a close eye on the "tackles for loss" and "QB hits" stats early in the year to see who might be the next person to threaten Garrett's brand-new record.