Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is now in a class of his own.
With his second-half takedown of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on Sunday, the All-Pro has set a new record of 23 quarterback sacks for the season, breaking the mark of 22 ½ shared by former New York Giants star Michael Strahan and current Pittsburgh Steeler, TJ Watt.
However, Garrett’s record was set in the 17th game of the season – one more than Strahan and Watt had to reach their career highs in 2001 and 2021, respectively.
As a result, many football fans were calling for Garrett’s mark to come affixed with an asterisk in the NFL record books.
‘Absolute all time great, but it shouldn’t really count given the extra game,’ one fan remarked on X. ‘Should be an asterisk.’
Another agreed: ‘Needed an extra game to do it. His record will always have an asterisk next to it.’
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates with teammates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to set an NFL record for sacks
Garrett sacked Joe Burrow for a 6-yard loss on first-and-10 at the Browns 45-yard line. Burrow was in the shotgun formation when he saw Garrett coming and went down
Garrett’s sack of Burrow was somewhat anticlimactic.
On first-and-10 from the Browns’ 45-yard line, Burrow was lined up in the shotgun when he saw Garrett blasted into the backfield. Burrow didn’t bother escaping and quickly dropped to the turf.
The play was reminiscent of Strahan’s record-breaking sack in 2001, when Favre dropped to the field, giving the Giants star any easy sack to set the record. NFL fans have long suspected Favre and Strahan arranged the moment after seeing the two Hall of Famers chatting shortly before Strahan’s historic sack.
Garrett has sacked 51 quarterbacks in his career, including Burrow, who has been dropped by the former Texas A&M star 12 times in 10 meetings.
Watt tied the mark in 2021 by sacking Ravens QB Tyler Huntley in the season finale.
Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns poses for a photo before playing the Bengals
Many NFL fans are quick to remind each other that the league did not record sacks until 1982 – two years before the new York Jets’ Mark Gastineau set a record with 22 in a single season. Because of this, there remains speculation that former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Deacon Jones might be the unofficial record holder, although that remains unconfirmed.
The Browns won Sunday’s game over the Bengals, 20-18, to improve to 5-12 and head into an uncertain offseason.
Not only are head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry on the hot seat, but even Garrett could be on his way out of Cleveland, where he could fetch a considerable haul on the trade market.
