Myles Garrett Sets New NFL Single-Season Sack Record
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett established a new NFL single-season sack record, achieving 23 sacks during the season finale. The record-breaking sack occurred in the fourth quarter against Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Path to the Record
Garrett's pursuit of the record included a half-sack against Josh Allen on December 21, which brought him close to the existing benchmark. He concluded the subsequent game against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers without recording a sack.
The previous NFL single-season sack record was 22.5 sacks, set by Hall of Fame edge rusher Michael Strahan in 2001. Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt tied Strahan's record in 2021. Garrett's 23rd sack surpassed both marks.
The Record-Breaking Play
With 5:17 remaining in the game, Garrett executed a swim move to bypass left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., leading to the sack of Joe Burrow. This play marked Garrett's 12th career sack against Burrow. Following the play, the game was briefly paused to acknowledge the achievement, and Garrett received an ovation from the Bengals crowd.
Reactions and Future Outlook
Following the game, Garrett commented on the difficulty of reaching the milestone, stating, "It was so tough. I knew they were going to make it difficult... The feeling couldn’t be better." He also quoted lyrics from Kanye West's "I Wonder."
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski recognized Garrett's accomplishment, referring to him as "the sack king" and highlighting the historical significance of the record. Stefanski further stated, "He’s the defensive player of the year. You can make him the MVP if I had a vote."
Garrett is considered a prominent candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award this season, an honor he received for the 2023 NFL season. He articulated a future objective to achieve 25 sacks in a season.