A Historic Pace: Will the Presumptive NFL DPOY Shatter the Sack Record?

With two weeks left in the season, one player is looking to make NFL history. That player is Myles Garrett, the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. In Cleveland’s 12th loss of the season, Garrett posted a half sack, his lowest sack total since being held without one in Week Six against the Steelers. Even with just a half sack this week, Garrett has 22 sacks this season and only needs one more to break the single-season NFL record. In a lackluster Browns season, the top question for the team as the season winds down is: Can Garrett break the single-season sack record?

Matchup in Weeks 17 & 18

As mentioned above, 2017’s first-overall pick was held without a sack in his first game against the Steelers. However, Garrett now has the chance to break a longstanding NFL record in his home stadium. Also, Broderick Jones, who held Garrett in check back in October, is out for the rest of the season with a neck injury. Though undrafted rookie Dylan Cook has played well in Jones’ absence, he will have a major test by having to contain Garrett in Cleveland’s final home game of 2025. In terms of Week 18, Garrett has a great chance to break the record based on data alone. In Week One, the 2023 DPOY dominated left tackle Orlando Brown, Jr., finishing with two sacks and four tackles for loss. If Garrett gets held for a half sack or less against the Steelers, expect him to get his money’s worth against the Bengals.

​Could He Reach His 25-Sack Goal?

Garrett has been humble enough to turn down trade requests from contenders to stay in Cleveland. Something that he hasn’t been as humble about is his personal goal for sacks. Three weeks ago, the elite pass rusher made headlines for writing ‘25’ on his wrist tape, signifying his goal for 25 sacks this season. “I set that goal about three years ago for myself,” said Garrett before Cleveland’s game against the Tennessee Titans. “I had a dream where I had that written on my tape, and I was going to get 25. I felt like that was just meant to be.” Considering his current sack total, his dreams may very well come true. With an undrafted rookie at left tackle next week and another left tackle that he feasted on in the first week of the season, it seems written in the stars for Garrett to shatter the sack record.