If you were watching the Cleveland Browns wrap up their 2025 regular season against the Bengals, you saw history. It wasn't just a win. It was the moment the "Who leads sacks in NFL" question got a permanent, historic answer for the modern era.
Myles Garrett did it.
Honestly, it felt inevitable but was still stressful to watch. Heading into that final Week 18 matchup, Garrett was sitting at 22 sacks. He needed one to pass the legendary mark of 22.5 shared by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan. For most of the game, the Bengals threw everything at him—double teams, triple teams, chips from the tight end. Then, with five minutes left, he cleared Orlando Brown Jr. and got to Joe Burrow.
That single play brought his season total to 23.0 sacks. It’s the new official Gold Standard for a single season in the NFL.
The Current Kings: Who Leads Sacks in NFL Right Now?
While Garrett holds the crown for the most explosive single season we've ever seen, the leaderboard behind him for the 2025-26 cycle is actually pretty crowded. You can't just talk about one guy when the league is currently overflowing with freakish edge talent.
Brian Burns had a monster year for the New York Giants. He finished second with 16.5 sacks, proving that the trade from Carolina was basically the best thing to happen to his career. Then you have the "old" reliable guys. Danielle Hunter, now with the Houston Texans, finished with 16.0.
Here is how the top of the mountain looked once the dust settled on the 2025 regular season:
- Myles Garrett (Browns): 23.0 (The New Record)
- Brian Burns (Giants): 16.5
- Danielle Hunter (Texans): 16.0
- Aidan Hutchinson (Lions): 14.5
- Nik Bonitto (Broncos): 14.0
- Tuli Tuipulotu (Chargers): 14.0
It's kinda wild to see names like Nik Bonitto and Tuli Tuipulotu jumping into the top five. It shows that the "Who leads sacks in NFL" conversation is shifting toward a younger generation. But don't think the established superstars have vanished. Micah Parsons, who actually played for the Green Bay Packers this past season (yeah, that still feels weird to type), put up 12.5 sacks despite dealing with a rotating cast of injuries.
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What Happened to T.J. Watt?
You're probably wondering why T.J. Watt isn't at the top. He’s usually the guy. Watt had a "down" year by his standards, finishing with 7.0 sacks. It sounds crazy to call 7 sacks a bad year, but for a guy who has led the league in sacks three different times (2020, 2021, and 2023), it was a quiet season.
However, Watt did something else this year. He officially passed his brother, J.J. Watt, on the all-time list. T.J. now has 115 career sacks. That’s good for 26th all-time. He’s still the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks in three separate seasons.
The All-Time Legends vs. The New Guard
When we ask "Who leads sacks in NFL," we usually mean this year. But the all-time list is where the real "End of Discussion" names live.
Bruce Smith is still the king. 200.0 career sacks.
That number is just stupid. To put it in perspective, Myles Garrett is currently at 125.5 career sacks. He’s 29 years old. He would need to average 12.5 sacks a year for the next six years just to get close to Bruce. It’s a mountain that might never be climbed again, especially with how quickly offensive tackles are getting better at pass protection.
Reggie White is second with 198.0. If you count unofficial stats (sacks became official in 1982), Deacon Jones would be right up there. Jones basically invented the term "sack." He used to say he wanted to "sack the quarterback like a bag of groceries."
The Top Career Sack Leaders (The "Official" Era)
- Bruce Smith: 200.0
- Reggie White: 198.0
- Kevin Greene: 160.0
- Julius Peppers: 159.5
- Chris Doleman: 150.5
The active player closest to these legends is Von Miller. Von is currently sitting at 138.5, tied with DeMarcus Ware for 9th all-time. He spent the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders, chipping in 9.0 sacks at the age of 36. Honestly, seeing Von still bend the edge at that age is pretty inspiring.
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Why Sacks Are Harder to Get in 2026
You’d think with 17-game seasons, these records would be falling every week. But they aren't. Myles Garrett’s 23.0 was a Herculean effort.
Quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball faster than ever. The average "Time to Throw" in the NFL has dropped significantly over the last five years. If a pass rusher doesn't win his rep in under 2.5 seconds, the ball is usually gone.
Also, the "Who leads sacks in NFL" race is now a game of advanced analytics. Defensive coordinators like Jim Schwartz in Cleveland are moving their best rushers all over the line. Garrett doesn't just sit at Right End anymore. He’ll line up over the guard, or even over the center, just to find a mismatch.
Misconceptions About the Sack Leaderboard
Most people think the guy with the most sacks is the best defender. That's not always true.
Take Maxx Crosby. He "only" had 10.0 sacks in 2025. But if you look at "Pressures" or "Quarterback Hits," he was near the top of the league. Sometimes a defender does all the work, forces the QB to scramble, and then a teammate clean up the play and gets the stat.
There’s also the "Al Baker Factor."
Al "Bubba" Baker actually had 23.0 sacks in 1978 as a rookie for the Detroit Lions. But because the NFL didn't officially track sacks until 1982, his name isn't in the official record books for the single-season record. Myles Garrett is the official leader, but the old-heads will always tell you about Bubba.
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What This Means for Your Fantasy Team or Betting Slips
If you're looking at who leads sacks in NFL for next season, you have to look at volume.
- Look for high snap counts: You can't get sacks from the sideline.
- The "Other Guy" Effect: Myles Garrett gets sacks because you have to double him, but it also helps that the Browns have Alex Wright and Za'Darius Smith taking pressure off.
- The Schedule: Pass rushers feast on young quarterbacks. If a team is playing four rookie QBs in a season, their sack leader is going to have a massive year.
Final Thoughts on the Sack Race
We are living in a golden age of defensive ends. Whether it's the raw power of Myles Garrett, the technical twitch of T.J. Watt, or the pure speed of Micah Parsons, the "Who leads sacks in NFL" title is the most prestigious individual defensive honor there is.
Myles Garrett is the king today. But with guys like Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. (who had 12.5 sacks for Houston this year) getting better every month, that 23.0 record might actually be in danger sooner than we think.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the "Pressure Rate" stats. Sacks are the flashy numbers that make the headlines, but pressure rate tells you who is going to get the sacks next week.
Actionable Insights for NFL Fans:
- Track Pressure Rate, Not Just Sacks: Use sites like PFF to see who is winning their blocks. A player with high pressures but low sacks is "due" for a breakout game.
- Watch the Defensive Coordinator: A change in coaching often leads to a change in how a star is used. Brian Burns' explosion this year was largely due to the Giants' aggressive blitz schemes.
- Respect the Age Curve: Most elite pass rushers peak between ages 24 and 28. Myles Garrett (29) is at the tail end of his physical prime, making his 23-sack season even more impressive.
The 2025-26 season proved that while the rules favor the offense, a truly elite defender can still take over a game. Myles Garrett stands alone at 23, but the chase for 24 begins the second the next preseason kicks off.