Myles Garrett is knocking on the door of NFL history - and he’s not just tapping politely.
With 19 sacks through 12 games, the Browns’ defensive juggernaut is now just four sacks shy of breaking the official single-season sack record - a mark jointly held by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021). And if you’re someone who respects the unofficial numbers, Garrett’s also chasing down Al Baker’s 23-sack season from 1978, which came before the NFL officially started tracking sacks in 1982.
What Garrett’s doing right now isn’t just impressive - it’s dominant. He’s racked up 14 sacks in his last five games alone, a stretch that’s turned a great season into a potentially historic one. With five games still left on the Browns’ schedule - Titans, Bears, Bills, Steelers, and Bengals - the runway is there for Garrett to take off and leave the record books in the dust.
Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett are good friends who talk often competing for DPOY.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 4, 2025
“I said, ‘If you don’t break the (sack) record, you suck. You can’t get this close to the finish line and not finish it.’ So I’m actually rooting for him in that aspect.” pic.twitter.com/6qKQO9zHOY
And it’s not just fans and analysts taking notice. Garrett’s friend and fellow pass-rushing phenom, Micah Parsons, weighed in this week with a bit of tough love.
“If you don’t break the (sack) record, you suck,” Parsons joked to reporters. “You can’t get this close to the finish line and not finish it. So I’m actually rooting for him in that aspect.”
That’s the kind of motivation only a peer can give - especially one who knows a thing or two about chasing quarterbacks.
Parsons, now in his fifth NFL season, is putting together another stellar campaign of his own. With 12.5 sacks so far, he ranks third in the league. And while Garrett’s surge may have pushed Parsons out of the Defensive Player of the Year conversation for now, he’s not backing down from the challenge of finishing strong.
“I think I’m having a pretty good year,” Parsons said. “I just want to sustain these last five weeks.
I read the same thing you guys read, ‘He never finishes the year.’ Well, it’s time to go finish the year.”
That’s the mindset of a player who’s hungry - not just for stats, but for respect and results. Parsons has already become just the second player in NFL history to record double-digit sacks in each of his first five seasons. Now, he’s eyeing a new personal best - 14 sacks in a season - and more importantly, helping the Packers lock up a playoff spot and a division crown.
Green Bay’s final stretch includes two matchups with the Bears, plus games against the Broncos, Ravens, and Vikings - a mix of offensive lines that will test Parsons’ endurance and explosiveness down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Garrett’s path to the record won’t be easy either. The Titans and Bears offer some sack opportunities, but the Bills, Steelers, and Bengals all have mobile quarterbacks and offensive lines that know what’s coming.
Garrett won’t sneak up on anyone - not at this point in the season. But that’s what makes this chase all the more compelling.
He’s not just trying to break a record. He’s trying to dominate when everyone knows he’s the problem.
With five games to go, the sack race is heating up. And while Garrett is the clear front-runner, Parsons is still pushing - not just for stats, but to prove he can finish the season just as strong as he started.
Two elite edge rushers. Two different paths. One shared mission: finish the year with no doubts left.