CINCINNATI — The evening earlier than he made NFL historical past, Cleveland Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett had a dream that he fell wanting the league’s single-season sack document.
Garrett, although, made positive that nightmare did not turn into actuality.
Together with his sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow within the fourth quarter of Sunday’s finale, Garrett reached 23 for the season, breaking the NFL’s single-season sack document.
The takedown within the Browns’ 20-18 victory pushed Garrett previous the earlier document of twenty-two.5 sacks that was set by Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Michael Strahan in 2001 and matched by Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt in 2021.
For a lot of the afternoon, Garrett almost introduced down Burrow. Earlier on the drive when Garrett set the document, he lined up at defensive deal with after which blitzed as an off-ball linebacker. With 5:17 left, Garrett used his quickest get-off of the season — 0.23 seconds, in keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats — and a deft swim transfer to get previous left deal with Orlando Brown Jr. and corral Burrow.
“It was every part I anticipated,” mentioned Garrett, whose dad and mom have been in attendance to look at the record-breaking sack. “It was so robust. I knew they have been going to make it tough, however s—, I do not suppose I noticed greater than three singles on an actual dropback the entire sport. I simply knew that if I did, I might should make that second rely. The sensation could not be higher.”
It marked the twelfth time he sacked Burrow in his profession, breaking a tie with the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for essentially the most instances Garrett has sacked a quarterback. Garrett additionally sacked Burrow final season to document his one hundredth profession sack in Week 16 of the 2024 marketing campaign.
As the gang at Paycor Stadium — about 250 miles from Cleveland — erupted, Garrett raised his arms in reduction earlier than placing his fingers collectively. Garrett jogged to the sideline to satisfy swarming teammates, who positioned him on their shoulders.
“That is historical past,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned. “He is the sack king. That is unbelievable. They have been enjoying this sport for a very long time, and for him to go get that within the circumstances, with the diploma of problem wherein he obtained it this season, is unbelievable. He is the Defensive Participant of the Yr. You may make him the MVP if I had a vote. And I believe the response of his teammates is real. That is actual. These guys care about one another.”
The 2023 Defensive Participant of the Yr and overwhelming favourite to win the award once more this season, Garrett used a torrid stretch to rewrite the historical past books. Getting into Week 18, Garrett’s 22 sacks have been tied for the third most in a season by a participant since 1982, when the person sack grew to become an official statistic. Garrett had recorded no less than half a sack in 9 straight video games earlier than his streak ended within the Browns’ Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That included a five-sack efficiency in opposition to the New England Patriots in Week 9, a profession excessive for Garrett and a Browns document, in addition to a four-sack exhibiting in opposition to the Ravens in Week 11.
In Week 14 in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, Garrett grew to become the thirteenth participant to document 20 sacks in a season.
Garrett is the primary participant in NFL historical past to document no less than 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons, and he’s the one participant to document no less than 10 sacks in every of the previous eight seasons. With 125.5 profession sacks, Garrett has the second most by a participant in his first 9 seasons since 1982. Garrett, who turned 30 on Dec. 29, additionally handed Corridor of Famer Reggie White (108) for essentially the most sacks by a participant underneath the age of 30. Garrett can be tied with Corridor of Famer Dwight Freeney for twentieth on the NFL’s profession sacks record.
The No. 1 decide within the 2017 NFL draft, Garrett has 10½ extra sacks than the next-closest participant since getting into the league (Watt, 115). Garrett, a six-time Professional Bowl choice and four-time All-Professional choice, additionally leads the league with 33 tackles for loss.
Cleveland’s loss to the Titans in Week 14 eradicated the Browns from playoff rivalry. Nevertheless, Garrett’s teammates and coaches rallied round his pursuit of historical past even in a misplaced season.
Earlier than the season, Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension — then a document for a non-quarterback — as he and the Browns reconciled after he requested a commerce in February. Such a contract got here with even larger expectations for the preeminent go rusher of his era.
Garrett responded together with his greatest season — and the best for a go rusher.
“That is the perfect defensive finish of our era,” mentioned Brown, who has confronted Garrett quite a few instances within the AFC North as a member of the Bengals and Ravens. “I obtained a ton of respect for him and his sport and his method.”
As Garrett wrapped up his postgame information convention, he quoted lyrics from Kanye West’s “I Marvel,” the music that performed from his cellphone whereas he walked as much as the lectern, to sum up his afternoon.
“Discover your desires come true,” Garrett mentioned. “Been ready on this my complete life, my complete soccer profession. I knew I had it in me. I needed that 25 [sacks]. They made it actual tough these final two video games, particularly, however actually these final three. That’ll be the subsequent journey, making an attempt to go on the market and get 25.”
