Myles Garrett Chases Sack History - and Shares Some Laughs Along the Way
Sunday’s Browns-49ers matchup had its share of tension, but it also delivered a few moments of genuine sportsmanship - and some pretty entertaining mic’d-up banter between two of the NFL’s best.
Coming into the game, Myles Garrett was on an absolute tear. The Browns’ defensive end had racked up 13 sacks over his previous four games, already setting a franchise record with 18 on the season.
He’s not just dominating - he’s chasing history, inching closer to the single-season sack record. But against the 49ers, Garrett faced one of his toughest tests yet.
San Francisco made it a priority to slow him down, and they did a solid job in their 26-8 win. Tight end George Kittle played a big role in that, frequently chipping Garrett to disrupt his rhythm off the edge. But what stood out just as much as the on-field chess match was the mutual respect between two All-Pros in the middle of the action.
At one point during the game, Garrett turned to Kittle and jokingly said, “I need you to stop chipping me if you don’t mind.” Kittle, never one to miss a beat, responded with a grin: “God no.
Your five-sack game was crazy. Keep going, man, it’s fun to watch.
Please don’t break the record today.”
And then came the kicker - Kittle added, “I’ll tell Brock to give you one [sack].” Garrett, still smiling, shot back: “Maybe two?”
Garrett did end up getting to Brock Purdy once, and he made his presence felt throughout the game with three quarterback hits. After the final whistle, the two shared a moment of mutual admiration.
Purdy approached Garrett and said, “What an honor to play against you.” Garrett, ever the competitor but clearly respectful, replied, “Sorry about the first hit, bro.”
Purdy took it in stride: “Are you kidding me? You got me in the game, I woke up.”
That’s the kind of exchange that reminds you why football is more than just stats and scores. It’s a battle, yes, but it’s also a brotherhood - one built on respect for the grind and the greatness on the other side of the ball.
As for Garrett, his one sack on Sunday brings him to 19 for the season. That puts him just four shy of Michael Strahan’s official single-season record of 22.5, set back in 2001, and four and a half away from the unofficial mark of 23 set by Al Baker in 1978.
With games still to come against the Titans, Bears, Bills, Steelers and Bengals, Garrett has a real shot to make history. But even as he chases the record books, he’s doing it in a way that’s winning over fans and opponents alike - with dominance on the field, and class off it.
"Please don't break the record today. I'll tell Brock to give you one."@gkittle46 was hoping @Flash_Garrett would take it easy on them 😂@insidetheNFL Week 13 Mic'd Up on X pic.twitter.com/5tzK4R3D8e
— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2025