TL;DR
- Myles Garrett has 18 sacks through 11 games, on pace for a record-breaking 28 sacks.
- Garrett's recent surge includes 13 sacks in a four-game stretch, surpassing his slow start.
- The single-season sack record is 22.5, shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
- The Cleveland Browns face the Tennessee Titans, who have surrendered the most sacks.
Are the Cleveland Browns the NFL's most interesting bad team?
With Shedeur Sanders now the starting quarterback and Myles Garrett pursuing the NFL's single-season sack record, there are several compelling factors to monitor Cleveland's performance, despite their current struggles.
Not long ago, the record appeared unattainable for Garrett. The former Defensive Player of the Year had accumulated just four sacks in the initial six contests of the season — a respectable rate of 11 over an entire season, but far from sufficient to spark any discussions regarding a record.
However, following Garrett's impressive performance of 13 sacks over a four-game stretch, he possesses a highly probable opportunity to surpass the existing single-season record of 22.5.
Here's a look at Garrett's updated sack total and season-long pace.
MORE: New Browns QB depth chart with Shedeur Sanders as starter
What is Myles Garrett's sack total for the 2025 season?
Garrett has 18 sacks through 11 games, putting him on pace for a 28-sack season.
Achieving 28 sacks would obliterate the existing single-season benchmark of 22.5, meaning Garrett isn't required to maintain his present trajectory. Indeed, he could average fewer than a sack each game across his remaining six matchups and still surpass the record.
Garrett initially had just five sacks across seven contests, yet he doubled his yearly count with five versus the New England Patriots during Week 8. Following a single sack of Justin Fields in Week 10, Garrett brought down Lamar Jackson on four occasions in Week 11 and Geno Smith three times in a Week 12 victory.
Here are the teams Garrett will be going up against as he closes in on the record.
MORE: What did Shedeur Sanders and Kevin Stefanski say after Week 12 win?
Browns remaining schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Nov. 30 | vs. 49ers | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 7 | vs. Titans | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 14 | at Bears | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 21 | vs. Bills | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 28 | vs. Steelers | 1 p.m. |
| Jan. 4 | at Bengals | TBD |
The Browns' upcoming games feature the Tennessee Titans, a team that has surrendered more sacks on average than any other squad this year.
Michael Strahan holds the record for the most sacks in a single NFL season.
Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021) share the single-season sack record of 22.5.
Strahan's achievement is subject to some debate, with certain individuals suggesting Brett Favre intentionally took a fall to allow Strahan to secure the record during the final game of the 2001 season. Watt equaled the benchmark in a 17-game 2021 season but participated in only 15 games, rendering his accomplishment even more noteworthy.
MORE: Full Shedeur Sanders stats, highlights from Week 12 win over Raiders
Top NFL performers in sacks for a single season
Here is a look at every player to officially record 20 sacks in a season:
| Player | Sacks | Season |
| Michael Strahan | 22.5 | 2001 |
| T.J. Watt | 22.5 | 2021 |
| Mark Gastineau | 22.0 | 1984 |
| Jared Allen | 22.0 | 2011 |
| Justin Houston | 22.0 | 2014 |
| Reggie White | 21.0 | 1987 |
| Chris Doleman | 21.0 | 1989 |
| Lawrence Taylor | 20.5 | 1986 |
| J.J. Watt | 20.5 | 2012 |
| J.J. Watt | 20.5 | 2014 |
| Aaron Donald | 20.5 | 2018 |
| Derrick Thomas | 20.0 | 1990 |
| DeMarcus Ware | 20.0 | 2008 |
Michael Strahan, 22.5 (2001)
The record-setting sack by Strahan has sparked debate, as Brett Favre seemed to go down easily when Strahan made contact. Nevertheless, the 2001 season proved to be a standout year for the New York Giants athlete. Strahan achieved three games where he secured a minimum of three sacks, notably a performance with four sacks against the Rams, and he only had three games where he didn't record a sack.
T-1. T.J. Watt, 22.5 (2001)
J.J. Watt boasts two seasons with 20 sacks, yet his brother, T.J., shares the single-season benchmark. The Pittsburgh Steelers standout neared the record with a powerful four-sack outing versus the Cleveland Browns during Week 17, subsequently adding the sack he required against the Baltimore Ravens in the final regular season contest. Watt achieved 22.5 sacks even after being sidelined for two games in 2021.
Gastineau sacks 22 in 1984
Mark Gastineau's decade-long tenure with the New York Jets featured a remarkable 22-sack season in 1984, following up a 19-sack performance in 1983. Gastineau managed to sack an opponent in all but three contests, notably achieving four sacks against the Indianapolis Colts during the season's opening week. More recently, Gastineau made headlines for Challenging Favre regarding the quarterback's role in the sack that enabled Strahan to surpass the record in 2001.
T-3. Jared Allen, 22.0 (2011)
Jared Allen, a distinguished Hall of Fame defensive end, was a formidable presence in Kansas City and Minnesota, achieving his zenith with 22 sacks in 2011. Allen's exceptional season saw him record 3.5 sacks during Week 17, meaning he didn't approach the final game of the season with significant expectations of equaling or surpassing the existing record, yet he came remarkably close to what many had anticipated.
Houston's 22.0 sacks in 2014
Having been selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft and achieving All-Pro status in 2014, Justin Houston more than doubled his previous career best, achieving an impressive 22 sacks during his fourth year in the league. Similar to Allen, Houston accomplished a significant portion of his season's work in the final game, registering four sacks to advance from 18 to 22, yet he only experienced three contests without recording a sack in 2014.