Two vulnerable NFL sack records: Tracking pace for Myles Garrett (19!), Broncos' D (51!)
Daniel Oyefusi Close Daniel Oyefusi ESPN Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun. Jeff Legwold Close Jeff Legwold ESPN Senior Writer Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered…
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Daniel Oyefusi
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Daniel Oyefusi
ESPN
- Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.
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Jeff Legwold
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Jeff Legwold
ESPN Senior Writer
- Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.
Since entering the NFL as the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has perennially been one of the league’s best players. And since the 2025 season started, the Denver Broncos have been among the league’s best teams at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
This season, both Garrett and the Broncos are on the brink of the NFL record books.
Garrett has recorded a career-high 19 sacks in 12 games, including 15 in the past six. With five games remaining in the regular season, Garrett is four sacks away from breaking the single-season record of 22.5 that is shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and current Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt.
Garrett’s 19 sacks are more than three teams have this season (Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers) and tied with a fourth (Baltimore Ravens). The 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (and overwhelming favorite to win the award this season), Garrett has turned in a potentially historic season, even with the Browns’ continued struggles on offense and the franchise guaranteed its seventh losing season since he was drafted.
In February, Garrett requested a trade in hopes of landing with a contending team. In March, he recommitted to the organization with a then-record-setting extension that averages $40 million per year. Less than 10 months later, Garrett, who turns 30 on Dec. 29, is on the verge of smashing the record that Strahan set in 2001 and Watt equaled in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have 51 sacks in 12 games, putting them on pace to tie the single-season team record of 72, set by the Chicago Bears in 1984. It has been a team effort for the Broncos, who have five players with four or more sacks. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto leads the way with 10.5, followed by edge Jonathon Cooper (7.5) and defensive tackle Zach Allen (6).
We’re tracking Garrett and the Broncos in their quests to take down quarterbacks. Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi is sizing up where things stand with Garrett heading into Cleveland’s Week 14 matchup on Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans, while Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold will evaluate where the Broncos stand heading into Denver’s Week 14 contest on Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders.
Where things stand for Garrett (19 sacks through 12 games)
Key stats and trends on Garrett’s sack-happy season: Garrett’s 15 sacks in his past six games are the most by any player in a six-game span since sacks became an official stat in 1982, per ESPN Research.
What we’re hearing on his season: “I don’t even think about it as a want — I just think about something that I’m going to knock down. It’s already been written in my mind that it’s going just how far I’m going to take it. So, just going to go out there and do what I do, and whatever number I end up at.” — Garrett said prior to the Browns’ Week 13 game against San Francisco.
What Garrett needs to do to stay on pace: Garrett is on pace for 27 sacks, a number that would not only shatter the current record of 22.5, but would get Garrett the record at or before the 16th game, which marked the end of the season when Strahan originally set the mark. In his most recent game, Garrett recorded one sack against the 49ers to get to 19, the most by a player through 12 team games since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Garrett’s pace gives him some wiggle room for a down afternoon or two, but he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. His next matchup is vs. the Titans and rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who has taken the most sacks in the NFL this season (48).
Garrett’s performance: He extended his NFL-leading sacks to total 19 by taking down 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the fourth quarter. The takedown of Purdy marked the sixth straight game Garrett has recorded a sack.
Garrett’s performance: Garrett’s three-sack game headlined a 10-sack performance for the Browns’ swarming pass rush, giving him his career high and bettering the franchise record he previously established in 2021 and 2022.
“I won’t try to delay [breaking the record], but I want it to come in a win,” Garrett said after the game.
Garrett’s performance: Garrett’s four sacks tied an NFL record, giving him 10 sacks over a three-game span. He also became the first player in league history to record at least 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons — breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor — and the fourth player in league history to log four sacks in multiple games in a season.
Garrett’s performance: Garrett added another sack, giving him the second-most sacks (11) by a Browns player after 10 weeks — he recorded 13 sacks through the first 10 weeks of the 2021 season.
Week 9: Bye week
Garrett entered the Browns’ bye with 10 sacks, tied with the New York Giants’ Brian Burns for the most in the NFL. Despite trade rumors and speculation surrounding Garrett, who has a no-trade clause, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline that there is “no chance” the Browns consider dealing Garrett.
Garrett’s performance: In the most impressive single-game performance in his career and Browns history, Garrett registered five sacks. Garrett also surpassed Hall of Famer Reggie White (108 sacks) for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30 since 1982.
However, the performance was diminished by another lopsided defeat, as Garrett sulked on the bench in the game’s final minutes.
“I would throw the whole performance away for a win,” Garrett said.
Myles Garrett sitting alone at the end of the bench amid his best statistical game, 5 sacks. But the Browns are 2 min away from dropping to 2-6 for the second straight year with the bye week approaching. pic.twitter.com/vagRGvHTFr
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 26, 2025
Garrett’s performance: He ended his three-game drought, registering one sack as the Browns also snapped a three-game losing streak.
Garrett’s performance: For the third straight game, Garrett didn’t record a sack, sparking him to call for a change to the defensive game plan.
“At the end of the day, offenses’ sole game plan for the most part is how to stop 95,” Garrett said days later. “And we have to do something to change that, to make adjustments to get me matchups just like other edge rushers around the league, so I can have that same kind of effect, because I feel like I’m that kind of player.”
Garrett’s performance: He was held without a sack for the second consecutive game, as well as a season-low 6.3% pressure rate.
Garrett’s performance: He was held without a sack for the first time this season. He still accounted for five pressures and two quarterback hits.
Garrett’s performance: He recorded only a half-sack as the Browns secured their first victory of the season, but he was still impactful. Garrett recorded multiple pressures in a game for the 94th time in his career, breaking a tie with Watt for the second most since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2006.
Garrett’s performance: The veteran followed up his season debut with a 1.5-sack performance against the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Garrett, though, was in no mood to reflect on his individual game after a blowout loss that he called “embarrassing.”
Garrett’s performance: Garrett began his march toward history with a two-sack performance against the Bengals and Joe Burrow, the quarterback he has taken down the most in his career (11 sacks). It marked Garrett’s 23rd career game with multiple sacks.
Where things stand for the Broncos (51 sacks through 12 games)
What the Broncos need to do to stay on pace: After their win against the Commanders, the Broncos remained on pace to tie the Bears’ sack record of 72. And if things go like they did in Week 10 against the Raiders, the Broncos could forge ahead of the pace. Denver sacked Geno Smith six times in their Nov. 6 win.
Broncos’ performance: The Commanders made it clear early that they weren’t going to give the Broncos many chances to sack Marcus Mariota. The ball came out early and the Commanders used bigger personnel groupings to keep the Broncos’ base defense on the field more than most opponents have. The Broncos still had two sacks — one by Nik Bonitto and another by Dondrea Tillman — to push their season total to 51.
Week 12: Bye week
In what might be the most remarkable stat, defensive tackle Zach Allen exited the bye week as the league leader in quarterback hits with 30, three more than sack leader Myles Garrett. The Broncos’ 49 sacks through 11 games kept them on a record pace and is the most a team has had through 11 games since the 2000 New Orleans Saints. Those Saints also had 49 sacks and finished with 66 in 16 games.
Broncos’ performance: Denver sacked Patrick Mahomes three times — the fifth time it has sacked Mahomes at least three times in a game — as the Broncos defeated the Chiefs for only the second time in a Mahomes start. Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian had two sacks, including one late in the fourth quarter that got the ball back to the Broncos for their game-winning drive. The Broncos closed the week as the NFL’s only team with five players with at least four sacks, with McMillian included in that mix.
Week 10: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (10-7 win)
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos sacked Smith six times and intercepted him once. Seven Broncos had at least a half-sack and the Broncos exited the week with three players — Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Allen — among the league’s top 15 in sacks. The Broncos’ season total increased to 46. Said Allen: “As a defensive lineman [a sack] is your favorite stat. The fact we are getting them is very special. … Obviously, I’d like to have a little bit less half-sacks with Bonitto and all these guys. But it’s a good problem to have.”
Broncos’ performance: Denver sacked the Texans’ quarterbacks four times — C.J. Stroud left the game with a concussion and was relieved by Davis Mills — and held Houston without a touchdown. It moved the Broncos to 40 sacks after nine games, maintaining their record pace and separating them from the next-best team — the Lions — by 12 sacks.
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos sacked Dak Prescott twice and intercepted him twice as Prescott eventually gave way to Joe Milton III. With 36 sacks, the Broncos again pushed 10 ahead of the No. 2 team, the Rams. The Broncos also found themselves with the league’s top two players in quarterback hits, with Allen leading with 22 and Bonitto at 17.
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos sacked Giants rookie Jaxson Dart four times and intercepted him once. But Dart also found enough room for three touchdown passes. But most will only remember the Broncos’ 33-point fourth quarter — Denver trailed 19-0 at the start of the final period — to get their fourth consecutive win. With 34 sacks, the Broncos remained on a record pace.
Broncos’ performance: Denver sacked Justin Fields nine times, the most the Broncos have had since a 10-sack game in 1969, when they were in the AFL. The Jets finished with minus-10 net passing yards thanks to the 55 yards lost on the sacks. Eight different Broncos players had at least a half-sack, and the Broncos’ 30 sacks after six games put them 10 ahead of the next-best team and on a ridiculous 85-sack season pace. On the minus-10 passing yards, Bonitto said, “I was shocked when they told us after the game. That’s pretty funny.”
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos were able to keep Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the pocket, sacking him six times and registering eight quarterback hits while holding the reigning Super Bowl MVP to 3 yards rushing on two carries. Bonitto added 2.5 more sacks to give Denver 21 after five games. This is the game that firmly put the Broncos on pace — at 4.2 sacks per game — to challenge the single-season sack record. Said coach Sean Payton on Bonitto after the win: “He’s a super pass rusher. You guys have seen the confidence just grow and grow with him. … It’s a quarterback that’s hard to sack. So I’m glad he is on our team.”
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos sacked Jake Browning, who was filling in for the injured Joe Burrow, three times as the Bengals managed only 159 total yards. Bonitto had 1.5 sacks, helping the Broncos surge into the league lead with 15 sacks. After the game, Bonitto, who had 4.5 sacks in four games, said: “I just feel like I’m a more confident player this year. I’m seeing things a lot faster, I’m trusting myself in a lot of things I’m doing within the defense.”
Broncos’ performance: The Broncos sacked Justin Herbert five times and hit him 14 times. Bonitto had two sacks (his first multi-sack game of the season) and five of those quarterback hits. The Broncos’ defense exited the week tied with the Rams for the league lead in sacks with 12. But despite swarming Herbert, Denver allowed the Chargers 29 first downs, the most they’ve given up this season.
Broncos’ performance: They got to Colts quarterback Daniel Jones once — linebacker Justin Strnad sacked Jones early in the third quarter. Jones’ 316 passing yards were the most against the Broncos this season, and this was the only game this season in which the Broncos did not have at least two sacks. The Broncos exited Week 2 tied for fifth in the league with seven sacks.
Broncos’ performance: They made Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s first NFL start a difficult one. They sacked Ward six times — by six different players — hit him 14 times and held Ward to 112 yards passing on 12 completions. “We just accept the challenge no matter what quarterback is out there, whether you’ve seen them before we know what affects the quarterback pressure, getting to him, making sure he feels uncomfortable in that pocket,” said Cooper, who had one sack.
