Myles Garrett and the Pursuit of the NFL Sack Record

Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett is on the verge of making history. Entering Week 18, he needs just one sack to break the NFL’s single-season record. The current record stands at 22.5 sacks, shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt. If Garrett succeeds, he will become the third player in the last 25 years to break the record, signaling that his potential high mark could be challenged by other defensive stars in the coming seasons.

But which players could be in line to make such a defensive surge? A look at this season’s sack leaders provides some insight into who might be poised to take the record in the future.

Top Contenders for the Sack Record

Brian Burns – LB, New York Giants

While some may question whether the New York Giants are a strong enough team to foster the kind of environment needed for a sack record, it’s important to note that Garrett plays for the Cleveland Browns. Burns has 16.5 sacks entering the final week of the year and is only 27 years old. His numbers suggest he has many productive years ahead of him.

Burns has three seasons with double-digit sacks and another four with eight or more. He is a unique linebacker who can play both inside and outside, making him a versatile threat for opposing offensive lines. If the Giants can effectively use other weapons like Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, and Kavon Thibodeaux, Burns could remain a dominant force on the field.

Danielle Hunter – DE, Houston Texans

Like Garrett, Hunter has spent much of his career in double-digit sack territory. He has seven such seasons to his name and has been consistently reliable. At 31 years old, his window is closing, but one explosive season could still make his mark on the league.

Hunter had a 3.5-sack game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 11 and went four consecutive games without getting to the quarterback. At his age, maintaining that level of performance is impressive. Don’t count him out from one last run at greatness.

Aidan Hutchinson – DE, Detroit Lions

At 25, Hutchinson has plenty of time to continue improving his game. He has recorded double-digit sacks in two of his four seasons in the league. He missed out on a third such season by just half a sack in his rookie year and logged 7.5 sacks in his broken leg-shortened campaign in 2024.

With the Lions looking like a competitive team for many seasons to come, Hutchinson won’t have to worry about facing the same challenges as Garrett does on the Browns. He has championship motivations driving him, and by only missing out on recording a sack in just five games this season, he’s got the momentum to chase down the record sooner rather than later.

Micah Parsons – DE, Green Bay Packers

If Parsons hadn’t torn his ACL after playing in 14 games, he could have potentially been pushing Garrett himself. The Packers’ offseason acquisition had 12.5 sacks at the time of his injury and was on pace to top his career best of 14 sacks (2023).

Parsons has yet to record a single-digit sack season in five seasons as a pro. With how aggressive Green Bay’s pass attack has been known to be in recent years, he’ll have every opportunity to terrorize quarterbacks in the future. Of all the potential challengers, Parsons probably has the best shot at breaking the record if he heals fully.

Maxx Crosby – DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Crosby was shut down by the Raiders for injury-related reasons (even if he begs to differ) and could’ve improved upon his 10 sacks this year. But that decision may cause enough of a rift to force him away from Nevada and to a new suitor. A change in environment may do Crosby some good and potentially reinvigorate his game.

At 28, he’s far from the downswing of his career and can still explode for double-digit sacks easily. Reaching 22.5 sacks (or more) will be difficult, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility, especially if he finds himself on a team with more threats than just himself on defense.

Conclusion

The pursuit of the NFL sack record is an exciting storyline, and while Myles Garrett is currently leading the charge, there are several other edge rushers who could follow in his footsteps. From Brian Burns to Maxx Crosby, each player brings unique strengths and potential to the table. As the league continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see who steps up to claim the title in the coming seasons.