Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has solidified his reputation as one of the NFL's elite defenders with a standout 2025 season. Garrett's performance reached a crescendo when he sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the season finale, setting a new single-season sack record with 23.
Garrett's career, now spanning nine seasons, is marked by remarkable achievements:
- He's recorded six straight seasons with at least 12 sacks, a feat unmatched since 1982.
- With 108.5 sacks before turning 30, Garrett has surpassed the legendary Reggie White, a Hall of Famer.
- Garrett has notched four consecutive seasons with at least four sacks, a first in NFL history.
- His career total of 125.5 sacks ties him with Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney for 28th place on the all-time list.
At his current clip of 13.9 sacks per season, Garrett is on track to overtake Bruce Smith as the all-time sack leader in about five-and-a-half seasons.
This record-breaking season earned Garrett Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press, the NFL, and The Sporting News, marking him as the first to win the latter three times consecutively.
Garrett's trophy case is impressive, but he's eyeing a prize that has eluded Cleveland since 1964. In a conversation with Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons for Bleacher Report, Garrett expressed his ambition to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Historically, only 10 defensive players have claimed the Super Bowl MVP title, from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley in Super Bowl V to Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller in Super Bowl 50. Achieving this would require a monumental effort from Garrett.
The Browns' challenge is making it to the Super Bowl, a stage they haven't graced since 1964. Yet, given Garrett's career accomplishments, if the Browns get there, betting against him snagging the MVP would be a risky move.