Summary (tl;dr)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has made NFL history by breaking the single-season sack record, achieving 23 sacks in the 2025 season.

Essential Background

Before January 4, 2026, the National Football League's single-season sack record was jointly held by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who set the mark in 2001, and T.J. Watt, who tied it in 2021, both with 22.5 sacks. Myles Garrett, a dominant pass rusher for the Cleveland Browns, had been on a record-breaking pace throughout the 2025 season, entering the final regular-season game needing just one sack to surpass this long-standing record. Despite battling a hip injury leading up to Week 18, Garrett was cleared to play, intensifying anticipation for his historic pursuit.

The Full Story

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, Myles Garrett officially etched his name into the NFL record books by securing his 23rd sack of the 2025 season, thereby setting a new single-season sack record. The monumental play occurred in the fourth quarter of the Cleveland Browns' Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, as Garrett successfully sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. This record-breaking moment propelled Garrett past the previous mark of 22.5 sacks, making him the sole holder of the NFL's single-season sack record.

Why It Matters

Myles Garrett's achievement is profoundly significant, establishing a new benchmark for individual defensive performance in the NFL that has stood for nearly a quarter-century. This record underscores his exceptional talent and unwavering impact on the game, often while facing rigorous blocking schemes designed to neutralize him. For Garrett, a consistent All-Pro and multiple Pro Bowl selection, this milestone further solidifies his legacy as one of the elite defensive ends in professional football history. The accomplishment also garners substantial positive recognition for the Cleveland Browns franchise.

Geographic Location

• Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States (Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record against the Cincinnati Bengals)