CINCINNATI — The chase is over. The number 22.5, which stood as the ceiling for pass rushers for nearly a quarter-century, has been shattered. On Sunday, Myles Garrett didn’t just reach the summit; he planted his flag and looked down.
With 5:18 left in the fourth quarter and the Bengals driving, Garrett lined up wide on the right edge. At the snap, he exploded past tackle Orlando Brown Jr., dipping his shoulder and bending the edge with terrifying speed. Joe Burrow, sensing the collapse, tried to step up, but Garrett was already there. He wrapped up the quarterback, dragging him to the turf and dragging the NFL record book along with him.
The sack—Garrett’s 23rd of the 2025 season—was pure kinetic fury. For weeks, the pressure had been mounting. He needed one sack to own the record outright. When he finally got up from the pile, the emotion was raw. He didn’t do a choreographed dance. He just roared, arms flexed, before being engulfed by teammates who knew exactly what that play meant.
First career passing yards title for Matthew Stafford 📈 pic.twitter.com/ZXw3p77igX
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2026
It wasn’t just about the number. It was about the consistency. Garrett has been a force of nature all year, logging a five-sack game against New England and four against Baltimore. While the Browns’ 5-12 season has been forgettable, Garrett’s individual campaign has been unforgettable. He is now the first player in history to log six consecutive seasons with 12+ sacks.
Garrett has always been open about his legacy. In the locker room post-game, he held the game ball like it was a newborn.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet. You grow up watching guys like Strahan and seeing what T.J. [Watt] did. To be the one standing here with 23… it’s a blessing. I felt like I was denied a few times earlier in the game, but I told myself I would not be denied fate.” — Myles Garrett, Browns DE
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has now been sacked by Garrett more than any other player, offered a tip of the cap despite the loss.
“If anyone was going to do it, it had to be him. He’s a monster. I just wish I wasn’t the answer to the trivia question.” — Joe Burrow, Bengals QB
The Browns walked away with a 20-18 win to close the season, but the headlines belong to #95. At 30 years old, Garrett is showing zero signs of slowing down. With 125.5 career sacks, he is on a direct trajectory for Bruce Smith’s all-time record of 200. If he stays healthy, we aren’t just watching a Hall of Famer; we are watching the greatest pass rusher to ever lace them up.
The 2025 season will be remembered for one thing in Cleveland: The year Myles Garrett became the King of Sacks.
