Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has etched his name into NFL history by breaking the league’s single season sacks record, capping a dominant and historic year despite Cleveland’s struggles in the standings. Garrett entered Sunday with 22 sacks and sealed the record with a fourth quarter takedown of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, surpassing the previous mark of 22.5 shared by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Steelers star T.J. Watt. The sack came with 5:04 remaining in the Browns’ 20–18 win and pushed Garrett to 23 sacks on the season.
Since being selected first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett has consistently been one of the league’s most disruptive defenders, and his 2025 season elevated him into rare territory. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year and overwhelming favorite to repeat, Garrett produced his record breaking season even as the Browns finished 5–12. He closed the year with 23 sacks, helping Cleveland secure a season ending win on a last second field goal.
Garrett’s road toward history included several dominant performances. He recorded five sacks against New England in Week 8 and followed it with a four sack outing against Baltimore in Week 11, setting a new franchise record for sacks in a game and surpassing his previous single game best. Earlier in the year, he passed Lawrence Taylor to become the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to post at least 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons. He also broke his own single season franchise record of 16 sacks during a three sack performance at Las Vegas in Week 12.
The accolades continue to pile up for the 30 year old pass rusher. Garrett became just the 13th player in NFL history to reach 20 sacks in a season and is now the first player ever with at least 12 sacks in six straight years and at least 10 sacks in eight consecutive seasons. With more than 125 career sacks, he trails only Reggie White for the most through a player’s first nine seasons since 1982 and has already passed White for the most sacks recorded before turning 30. Garrett’s historic production has firmly placed him among the greatest pass rushers the league has ever seen, and this season stands as the defining chapter of an already legendary career.
MYLES GARRETT IS THE NEW SACK RECORD KING.
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026
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