In the NFL, there are many records that have been touched but not broken, especially the quarterback sack record. A sack is when a defensive player (an edge rusher or a defensive tackle/nose tackle) is able to get to the quarterback and tackle him before he is able to throw a pass. In week 18 of the NFL season, Myles Garret, the star defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, put his name in the history books after breaking the New York Giant’s Michael Strahan’s long-standing record. Garret has been a dominant force on the defensive line and even accumulated five sacks in a single game: a Cleveland Browns record. Surpassing the previous sack record highlights not only his exceptional talent, but also his dedication and perseverance throughout his career.
It was a close game against the Bengals. In the fourth quarter, the Browns were up by five points, and the Bengals had the ball on the Browns’ 45-yard line. On first-and-ten, Joe Burrow dropped back to pass but had nowhere to go with Myles Garret all over him. The stadium erupted with cheers as the Browns rushed to celebrate this record with Garrett. Commentators and fans alike immediately recognized the significance, acknowledging not just the quantity of sacks but the quality and impact of Garrett’s playmaking ability.
The takedown pushed Garrett past the previous record of 22.5 sacks that was set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan in 2001 and matched by Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt in 2021. After the game, Garret said, “It was everything that I expected. It was so tough. I know they were going to make it difficult. I don’t think I saw more than three singles on a real dropback the whole game. I just knew that if I did, I’d have to make the moment count. The feeling couldn’t be better.”
The Browns will miss the playoffs for the eighth time in Garrett’s ten seasons in Cleveland, but they are going in the right direction. They have drafted a few quarterbacks and may even have found their franchise quarterback in Sheudeur Sanders: the 42nd quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999. But despite this, Myles Garrett has had a career-best year. Garrett has 6.5 more sacks than New York’s Brian Burns, with 16.5, who is in second place in the league for sacks this year. Garrett’s previous season high in sacks was 16, along with 22 tackles for loss. This year, he recorded a league-best 32 tackles for loss and 23 sacks.
As Garrett continues his career, fans and analysts alike eagerly anticipate what new records and milestones he will achieve. His achievement was celebrated widely across sports media and social media platforms. He continues to inspire defensive players and football enthusiasts everywhere. For now, his sack record stands as a remarkable achievement — one that showcases his exceptional talent and cements his legacy as a defensive powerhouse in professional football.
