Even by his usual standards, Myles Garrett is hunting quarterbacks at an extremely prolific level in 2025. He’s stampeded to 18 sacks within his first 11 games, including a jaw-dropping 14 over his past five. At that pace, he’s on track to finish with 28 quarterback takedowns, obliterating the single-season mark of 22.5, currently shared by T.J. Watt (2021) and Michael Strahan (2001).
It would be an obvious highlight of a career that seems sure to lead to a gold jacket and lifetime pass to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But there’s another historic figure coming into view for the perennial Pro Bowler: the career sack record of 200, held by the legendary Bruce Smith.
After all, Garrett won’t turn 30 until the end of December — and he already has 120.5 sacks to his name. He’s also reached double-digit sacks for eight straight seasons and counting, giving him a realistic chance to swipe the sack crown before he wraps up his time on the field.
As a former player, I played with Hall of Fame pass rushers Reggie White, Derrick Thomas and the aforementioned Smith. I was also part of the Carolina Panthers’ personnel staff that watched another Hall of Famer, Julius Peppers, lead our team to Super Bowl XXXVIII. So I know what an all-timer looks like.
Back before Garrett was selected first overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, I compared Garrett to Peppers — and the Texas A&M product has not disappointed. He’s exhibited Canton-caliber qualities (like his chiseled, 6-foot-4, 272-pound frame, freakish athleticism and disruptive skills) while exemplifying exactly what coaches and scouts are chasing in pass rushers each draft season.
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year has dominated the game with a flair and pizzazz similar to Peppers, utilizing basketball-like maneuvers (SEE: his Allen Iverson-esque “crossover“) to win against overmatched blockers at the point of attack. Additionally, he will flip his speed into power to overwhelm blockers with various bull rushes, dip-and-rip moves and swipes to crush the pocket from various alignments.