You really can't make this stuff up. If you’d told me back in August that we’d be watching a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford play like he’s 24 or seeing a Seahawks receiver put up numbers that make Jerry Rice look human, I’d have said you’re spending too much time on Madden. But here we are. The 2025-26 campaign hasn't just been "good" football. It’s been a full-on demolition of the record books.
Honestly, it feels like the league shifted into a higher gear this year. Maybe it’s the 17-game schedule finally settling in, or maybe the talent level is just hitting a ridiculous peak. Whatever it is, nfl records this season have been falling like dominoes. We aren't just talking about minor "team-level" stuff either. We’re talking about the big ones. The "hold my beer" type of milestones that people will be debating in bars for the next twenty years.
Myles Garrett and the Sack Record That Finally Shattered
For a long time, 22.5 was the magic number. Michael Strahan did it in 2001 (with a little help from Brett Favre sliding down, depending on who you ask), and T.J. Watt matched it in 2021. It felt like a ceiling. But Myles Garrett just decided that ceiling didn't exist.
In the closing minutes of Week 18 against the Bengals, Garrett dragged down Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season. It was violent. It was clean. And it was historic. Garrett didn't just break the record; he did it while being double-teamed or chipped on over 70% of his snaps toward the end of the year. When you lead the league with a 93.3 PFF pass-rush grade, you expect some production, but 23 sacks is just "video game" territory.
People like to argue about the 17th game. Sure, Garrett had an extra week compared to Strahan. But the level of offensive line play and the complexity of modern blocking schemes make what he did even more impressive. He’s the first player to truly own that record without a "shared" tag in years.
The Seahawks’ New Icon: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Absurd Year
If you didn't have JSN on your fantasy team, you probably lost. That’s just the reality of 2025.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn't just lead the league in receiving; he redefined what a second-year leap looks like. He finished the regular season with 1,793 receiving yards. Think about that. He surpassed Justin Jefferson’s record for the most receiving yards by a player aged 23 or younger.
- Total Yards: 1,793
- Seahawks Franchise Record: Smashed (previously held by Steve Largent/DK Metcalf types).
- The "Rice" Factor: He’s now in the conversation with guys like Calvin Johnson and Cooper Kupp for the most prolific seasons ever.
It’s kinda wild to watch a guy who isn't necessarily the fastest or the biggest just find space every single play. He’s basically a glitch in the secondary. Along with Puka Nacua (who hauled in 129 catches this year), the NFC West has become a nightmare for defensive backs.
Matthew Stafford: The Old Man and the MVP
We need to talk about Matthew Stafford. The guy is 37. In NFL years, that’s basically ancient for anyone not named Brady. Yet, he just put up 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns.
Stafford is on track to become the oldest player in NFL history to win his first career MVP. He’s been surgical. He had a stretch this season where he threw for multiple touchdowns with zero interceptions in six straight games. Only Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have ever done that.
The most impressive part? He’s doing it with a style that’s totally his own—sidearm lasers, no-look passes, and a level of deep-ball accuracy that shouldn't be possible at his age. He led the NFL in "big-time throws" by a massive margin. If the Rams go deep in the playoffs, this season will be remembered as the definitive Stafford masterpiece.
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Other Milestones You Probably Missed
It wasn't just the flashy passing stats. The "trench war" and the ground game had some serious history-making moments too.
- James Cook III: He took the rushing title with 1,621 yards. The Bills’ offense became the No. 1 rushing unit in the league, which is a weird sentence to write given how much they love Josh Allen’s arm.
- Josh Allen’s 40-TD Habit: Allen reached 40 offensive touchdowns for the sixth time in his career. That ties Aaron Rodgers for the most in NFL history. He also became the fastest player to ever hit 300 total career touchdowns, doing it before he even turned 30.
- Trey McBride’s Consistency: This one is for the stat nerds. The Cardinals' tight end caught at least five passes in 15 consecutive games, breaking a tie with Travis Kelce. He’s also the first tight end to ever record back-to-back 100-reception seasons.
- Derrick Henry’s Second Act: Moving to Baltimore was the best thing for "The King." He became just the fourth player ever to tally 3,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons with a new team.
The Josh Allen "Unicorn" Stats
Speaking of Josh Allen, the Bills as a team were a record-breaking machine this year. They scored 30 or more points in every single regular-season game for two straight years. Only one other team in history has ever done that.
Buffalo's win against the Bengals in Week 14 was also the first time they ever beat a Joe Burrow-led team. It felt like a curse was lifted. But honestly, the real story in Buffalo is the defense. They finished first in pass defense (yards allowed) and rushing touchdowns. They’re the most balanced they’ve ever been in the McDermott era.
Why These NFL Records This Season Matter
You might think, "Who cares? It’s just numbers." But these stats tell us where the game is going. We’re seeing a shift where "hybrid" players like Bijan Robinson (who put up 2,298 yards from scrimmage) are becoming the focal point. The league is faster, the quarterbacks are more mobile, and the records are reflecting a game that never sleeps.
What’s truly fascinating is how many of these records came from the NFC West and AFC East. Those divisions were absolute gauntlets. When you're playing elite competition every week, the stats usually take a hit. Instead, these guys leveled up.
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What to Watch for in the Postseason
The records don't stop when the playoffs start. We already saw the Rams and Bears produce the highest-scoring playoff game ever (52-45).
If you're tracking these milestones, keep an eye on:
- Christian McCaffrey: He’s chasing the record for most career receiving touchdowns by a running back in the Super Bowl era. He’s currently tied with Marshall Faulk at 36.
- Matthew Stafford: If he continues his "no-INT" streak in the postseason, he could set a mark for efficiency that we haven't seen in the modern era.
- Bo Nix: The Broncos rookie-turned-star has 7 game-winning drives. If he carries that "clutch" factor into a deep playoff run, we’re looking at one of the greatest sophomore seasons in history.
The 2025 season will be remembered as the year the "old guard" (Stafford) and the "new breed" (JSN, Nix, Garrett) met in the middle to absolutely torch the history books.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the All-Pro Lists: The official ballots are coming out soon, and with 11 players from the NFC West likely making the first or second teams, it’s going to be dominated by the record-breakers mentioned here.
- Follow the "Sack-per-Game" Pace: Now that Garrett has set the bar at 23, watch how the league's elite edges like Aidan Hutchinson (who led in pressures) adjust their pass-rush techniques next season.
- Monitor the 17-Game Context: When discussing these records with friends, remember to mention "efficiency per game" (like Drake Maye’s 72% completion rate) to provide the full picture beyond just the bulk totals.