{"id":13009,"date":"2026-01-05T09:04:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T09:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/myles-garrett-23-sacks\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T09:04:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T09:04:05","slug":"myles-garrett-23-sacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/myles-garrett-23-sacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Myles Garrett sets single-season sack record at 23, eyes 25 next season"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett recorded a league\u2011record single\u2011season 23 sacks when he brought down Joe Burrow late in the season finale, surpassing Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt&#8217;s 22.5 marks. The milestone followed a half\u2011sack on Josh Allen on Dec. 21 that left Garrett a half\u2011sack shy of the record before the finale. Garrett said he always believed he could reach the mark and told reporters he now wants a 25\u2011sack season. The play came with 5:17 remaining and briefly paused the game while Browns teammates celebrated.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Myles Garrett finished the season with a single\u2011season NFL record of 23 sacks, topping Michael Strahan&#8217;s 22.5 (2001) and T.J. Watt&#8217;s 22.5 (2021).<\/li>\n<li>The decisive sack came on Joe Burrow in the season finale, when Garrett used a swim move past left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. with 5:17 left in the game.<\/li>\n<li>Garrett recorded a half\u2011sack on Josh Allen on Dec. 21 that moved him within 0.5 of the record before the final game.<\/li>\n<li>It was Garrett\u2019s 12th career sack of Joe Burrow, a personal matchup highlight across their meetings.<\/li>\n<li>Browns coach Kevin Stefanski praised Garrett as the franchise\u2019s \u201csack king\u201d and suggested Garrett is a clear Defensive Player of the Year candidate; Garrett previously won the award in 2023.<\/li>\n<li>Garrett said he heard Kanye West\u2019s \u201cI Wonder\u201d as he walked into his postgame news conference and reiterated his aim to reach 25 sacks next season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Myles Garrett entered the closing weeks of the season chasing a long\u2011standing single\u2011season sack record: Michael Strahan\u2019s 22.5 sacks set in 2001. T.J. Watt matched that 22.5 total in 2021, leaving the benchmark at 22.5 until Garrett\u2019s run this year. Garrett\u2019s campaign has been a focal point for the Browns\u2019 defense, which leaned on his pass\u2011rush production throughout the season. He already had established himself as one of the premier edge players in the league, earning Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2023 and consistently drawing top offensive attention this year.<\/p>\n<p>The path to the record included notable moments: a half\u2011sack on Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Dec. 21 cut the deficit to half a sack, and a scoreless outing the prior week left the finale as the final opportunity. Opposing offensive schemes increasingly prioritized neutralizing Garrett, forcing teams to chip with tight ends and slide protection. The season finale pitted Garrett against a Bengals frontline anchored by Orlando Brown Jr., a frequent matchup that had significant attention given Garrett\u2019s proximity to the record.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The decisive play came late in the fourth quarter when Garrett executed a swim move to slip past Orlando Brown Jr. and reach Joe Burrow, bringing Burrow down and securing Garrett\u2019s 23rd sack. The stadium reaction included a notable ovation for Garrett, and the contest was briefly paused to allow the Browns to acknowledge the milestone \u2014 an interruption that drew visible displeasure from Bengals coach Zac Taylor. The sack was recorded with 5:17 remaining in the game and was officially credited as the play that set the new single\u2011season mark.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett\u2019s path to Burrow on the play combined individual technique and recognition of the blocking angle; it marked his 12th career sack against Burrow and underscored their repeated matchups. Teammates gathered to celebrate on the field, and coach Kevin Stefanski publicly lauded Garrett\u2019s performance and season. Postgame, Garrett described the moment as the culmination of a lifelong goal and noted the particular difficulty he faced in the season\u2019s final weeks due to opponents\u2019 focused protection schemes.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the season, Garrett\u2019s half\u2011sack on Dec. 21 against Josh Allen narrowed the gap and set up the finale as the decisive stage. He had gone without a sack in the prior game versus Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, increasing the narrative pressure coming into the finale. Garrett\u2019s postgame comments referenced patience and preparation for limited pass\u2011rush opportunities, saying he knew he would have to make a single moment count if the chance arrived.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Garrett eclipsing the 22.5 mark alters the historical landscape of single\u2011season pass\u2011rushing achievements. The record had stood effectively at 22.5 since 2001 (shared by Strahan and Watt), a benchmark that offensive coordinators have long schemed against. Garrett reaching 23 demonstrates both elite individual skill and an ability to maintain production despite opposing adjustments and extra protection. For contract valuation and legacy arguments, the record strengthens Garrett\u2019s standing among the era\u2019s premier defenders.<\/p>\n<p>From an awards perspective, Garrett\u2019s season positions him as the clear frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year; voters place significant weight on dominant, record\u2011setting campaigns. The Browns also benefit more broadly: consistent pressure from Garrett has cascading effects on run defense, coverage opportunities, and play\u2011calling flexibility. Opposing teams may respond next season with more game\u2011planning resources toward containing Garrett, which could alter how the Browns allocate supporting personnel and defensive schemes.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett\u2019s stated goal of 25 sacks next season introduces a new benchmark and a competitive narrative for the offseason. Achieving 25 would require sustained health, opportunity and perhaps schematic support to generate more one\u2011on\u2011one rushes. The league\u2019s evolving offensive trends \u2014 quicker releases, more rollouts \u2014 make extremely high sack totals harder to replicate, so reaching 25 would represent another substantial feat. For the broader NFL, the record may incentivize teams to invest in edge rushers and pass\u2011rush coaching as a premium asset.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Player<\/th>\n<th>Sacks<\/th>\n<th>Year<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Myles Garrett<\/td>\n<td>23.0<\/td>\n<td>this season<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Michael Strahan<\/td>\n<td>22.5<\/td>\n<td>2001<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>T.J. Watt<\/td>\n<td>22.5<\/td>\n<td>2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The comparison shows Garrett\u2019s 23.0 sacks top the previous 22.5 mark shared by Strahan and Watt. Sack totals can include half\u2011sack credits when two defenders combine on a quarterback takedown; that accounting is why prior top totals read 22.5. Garrett\u2019s 23.0 is a full\u2011sack total above those historic figures, creating a new single\u2011season standard for the stat. Contextually, season length and offensive evolution are important when comparing eras, since play styles and passing volume change over time.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Coach Kevin Stefanski offered immediate praise, framing Garrett\u2019s achievement in franchise and historical terms before contextualizing team sentiment.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;That\u2019s history. He\u2019s the sack king. That\u2019s unbelievable&#8230;He\u2019s the defensive player of the year. You can make him the MVP if I had a vote.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns coach (media)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Garrett described the moment as the fulfillment of a long\u2011held ambition and acknowledged the difficulty of the final games.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Find your dreams come true&#8230;I knew I had it in me. I wanted that 25. They made it real difficult these last two games&#8230;That\u2019ll be the next journey.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Myles Garrett (player, postgame comments reported by ESPN)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Reporters noted how the play unfolded and the crowd reaction; the ovation and brief stoppage emphasized the cultural weight of a single\u2011season NFL record.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How sacks and half\u2011sacks are recorded<\/summary>\n<p>Sacks are credited to the defender who brings down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. When two (or more) defenders share a takedown, official scorers award half\u2011sacks to each participant, which is why historical top totals can include .5 values (for example, 22.5). The NFL&#8217;s official statkeeping rules determine sack credits and are used in season totals and award considerations. Defensive Player of the Year voting is conducted by a panel of voters (often associated with the Associated Press) after the regular season; such awards are official only once tabulated and announced.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The claim that Garrett is &#8220;certain to win Defensive Player of the Year&#8221; is a strong prediction; final voting results are definitive only when officially announced by award organizers.<\/li>\n<li>Garrett\u2019s stated goal of a 25\u2011sack season is an expressed intention and not a forecast\u2014achieving it will depend on next season\u2019s health, opportunities and opponent adjustments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Myles Garrett\u2019s 23\u2011sack season establishes a new NFL single\u2011season high and cements his status among the league\u2019s elite edge rushers. The sack on Joe Burrow in the finale closed a months\u2011long chase that included a half\u2011sack on Dec. 21 and games in which opponents prioritized neutralizing him. The record has implications for Garrett\u2019s legacy, future contract and award recognition, and will likely shape how teams plan to contain him in upcoming seasons.<\/p>\n<p>For the Browns, Garrett\u2019s milestone lifts the defensive profile of the franchise and creates an offseason narrative around protecting and complementing a now\u2011record\u2011holding pass rusher. Fans and analysts will watch whether Garrett can reach his 25\u2011sack target and how the league responds to a new single\u2011season benchmark.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nfl\/profootballtalk\/rumor-mill\/news\/myles-garrett-on-nfl-record-i-knew-i-had-it-in-me-now-i-want-a-25-sack-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC Sports<\/a> \u2014 (News media: original report)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a> \u2014 (News media: reporting referenced for postgame quotes)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL.com<\/a> \u2014 (Official league site: statistical standards and game records)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett recorded a league\u2011record single\u2011season 23 sacks when he brought down Joe Burrow late in the season finale, surpassing Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt&#8217;s 22.5 marks. The milestone followed a half\u2011sack on Josh Allen on Dec. 21 that left Garrett a half\u2011sack shy of the record before the finale. &#8230; <a title=\"Myles Garrett sets single-season sack record at 23, eyes 25 next season\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/myles-garrett-23-sacks\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Myles Garrett sets single-season sack record at 23, eyes 25 next season\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Myles Garrett sets 23-sack single-season record \u2014 NBC Sports Blog","rank_math_description":"Myles Garrett set the NFL single\u2011season sack record with 23, surpassing Strahan and Watt; the milestone came against Joe Burrow and Garrett says he now wants 25 next season.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Myles Garrett,23 sacks,NFL record,Joe Burrow,Defensive Player of the Year","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13009\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}