We look at the sack leaders throughout NFL history, from the most sacks in a game, to the most sacks in a season, to the most sacks in a career.
What is a sack?
A sack is when a quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage.
Most sacks in NFL history
Rank | Player | Sacks |
1 | Bruce Smith | 200 |
2 | Reggie White | 198 |
3 | Kevin Greene | 160 |
4 | Julius Peppers | 159.5 |
5 | Chris Doleman | 150.5 |
There are few greater feelings on defense than to get behind the offensive line and take a quarterback down and it's a feeling Bruce Smith felt more than anybody else in NFL history, leading the league with 200 career sacks across his spells with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.
Records have only been kept officially since 1982, with 44 players credited with 100+ sacks, but only five have cleared 150.
Most sacks in a season
Rank | Player | Sacks | Year |
1 | Myles Garrett | 23 | 2025 |
2 | Michael Strahan | 22.5 | 2001 |
2 | TJ Watt | 22.5 | 2021 |
4 | Justin Houston | 22.0 | 2014 |
4 | Jared Allen | 22.0 | 2011 |
Cleveland Browns dominant pass rusher Myles Garrett boasts an all-time NFL-high 23 sacks across a single campaign, achieving the feat during the 2025 season.
Although Al Baker was the first player to set that record for the Detroit Lions in 1978, sacks weren't officially recorded until 1982, which makes Garrett the current seasonal record-holder.
Michael Strahan and TJ Watt both achieved 22.5 each, tying them second in the list.
Seven players have led the league in sacks in two or more seasons, with Watt the only player to do it three times - in 2020, 2021 and 2023 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Most sacks in a game
Rank | Player | Sacks | Fixture | Date |
1 | Derrick Thomas | 7.0 | Chiefs v Seahawks | 11 Nov 1990 |
2 | Khalil Mack | 6.0 | Charges v Raiders | 1 Oct 2023 |
2 | Adrian Clayborn | 6.0 | Falcons v Cowboys | 12 Nov 2017 |
2 | Osi Umenyiora | 6.0 | Giants v Eagles | 30 Sep 2007 |
2 | Derrick Thomas | 6.0 | Chiefs v Raiders | 6 Sep 1998 |
2 | Fred Dean | 6.0 | 49ers v Saints | 13 Nov 1983 |
Only five players since 1982 have recorded six sacks in a game, and one of them also managed to do it seven times.
Derrick Thomas set the record for the most sacks in a game, getting to Seattle Seahawks QB Dave Krieg seven times (with Krieg sacked two more times in the game), despite the Kansas City Chiefs losing 17-16. Eight years later, Thomas would come up one short of his record, getting to Oakland Raiders QB Jeff George six times.
