On a chilly December afternoon in Cleveland, all eyes turned to Huntington Bank Field as the Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that promised more than just a divisional clash. The headline storyline? Myles Garrett, the Browns’ star defensive end, stood on the brink of NFL history, needing just one sack to break the single-season record set nearly a quarter of a century ago by Michael Strahan and matched by T.J. Watt in 2021.
As kickoff approached on December 28, 2025, anticipation buzzed throughout the stadium and across the football world. Garrett entered the contest with 22 sacks, just half a sack shy of the all-time single-season mark of 22.5. Having recorded a sack in 12 of Cleveland’s 15 games this season—including an impressive streak of at least half-a-sack in nine straight—Garrett’s dominance on the defensive line had become one of the few bright spots in an otherwise challenging year for the Browns, who carried a 3-12 record into the matchup.
“Yeah, I think five years is right at that time to take out, go ahead and hang the cleats up,” Garrett told reporters earlier in the week, hinting at his long-term plans and adding, “So, I do think about if I could if I can do it, and I think I’m only getting better. I think the numbers are only pertained to look similar to how they are right now. So, I’ll be knocking on his door pretty soon. He’s got the little graveyard he did a couple years back. We had all these graves, and he had to show me up. But it’s okay, Imma catch him.”
But Garrett’s ambitions stretch beyond the single-season sack record. With 124.5 career sacks—third among active players behind Cameron Jordan and Von Miller—he’s openly chasing Bruce Smith’s all-time mark of 200 career sacks. Smith accomplished the feat over 19 seasons, but Garrett, ever confident, has mapped out a plan to get there in just 14 years. At his current pace, he could surpass his active peers as soon as next season, and then the long pursuit of Smith’s record would truly begin.
For now, though, the focus was squarely on history in the making. The Browns-Steelers showdown had additional intrigue: T.J. Watt, who shares the single-season sack record and would have been Garrett’s direct rival on the field, was sidelined with a collapsed lung. Despite the media’s appetite for a personal rivalry, Garrett downplayed any animosity. “I think the guys around here have that more in their minds about the rivalry, whether it’s him and I or the Browns and the Steelers taking it from them than I do. I just want to go get it to say that I got it because I feel like that’s what I’m capable of,” he said.
Across the NFL, the expanded 17-game regular season has added a wrinkle to the record books, and Garrett’s pursuit of the sack record in his 16th game has not gone unnoticed. While T.J. Watt managed to tie Strahan’s mark in just 15 games in 2021, Garrett’s campaign has been a testament to both his consistency and his ability to disrupt opposing offenses week after week.
Sunday’s contest brought an added layer of challenge. The Steelers, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, presented a unique obstacle. Rodgers, renowned for his quick release, had been the fastest thrower in the league this year, making it especially tough for even the best pass rushers to get home. In fact, CBS’ Tracy Wolfson noted before the game that Garrett had never sacked Rodgers in his career. The Browns’ defensive strategy would need to be sharp, perhaps requiring the secondary to extend plays and give Garrett extra time to close in.
The opening drives set the tone. Cleveland struck first, taking a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, while Garrett faced double and even triple teams from Pittsburgh’s offensive line. The Steelers, aware of the record at stake, called quick passes and screens, doing everything they could to neutralize Garrett’s impact. Still, his presence was felt—he blew up plays, forced hurried throws, and consistently drew extra attention from blockers.
As the game wore on, the tension mounted. Every Steelers snap was met with a collective intake of breath from fans hoping to witness history. Garrett came close on several occasions; Rodgers sensed the pressure and released the ball just in time, evading what would have been a record-breaking sack. The Sporting News tracked every snap, noting, “Garrett comes close once more, but Rodgers throws an incomplete pass to escape the record.”
In the third quarter, Browns defensive end Alex Wright managed to bring down Rodgers, but for Garrett, the elusive sack remained just out of reach. With just over two minutes left in the game, Pittsburgh needed to go 80 yards to take the lead—Garrett’s final opportunity to etch his name atop the record books for the day. Yet, despite relentless effort, the sack did not come. Rodgers, ever the savvy veteran, continued to get rid of the football in the nick of time.
Though the record would have to wait, Garrett’s impact on the game was undeniable. He finished with one tackle and one quarterback hit, but his mere presence altered the Steelers’ game plan. “Pittsburgh has been pretty conservative and stayed away from Garrett all game,” one update read, reflecting the respect he commands from even the most seasoned opponents.
The moment may not have arrived on December 28, but with one game remaining in the regular season, the stage is set for another shot at history. The Browns’ season may be winding down, but Garrett’s pursuit of greatness continues to captivate fans and pundits alike. And with his sights set not just on a single-season milestone, but on the all-time sack record, the NFL world will be watching every snap he takes.
Elsewhere in the league, other historic marks are also within reach as the 2025 campaign draws to a close. Trey McBride is chasing the record for most receptions by a tight end in a season, while Christian McCaffrey is looking to become the first player with multiple 1,000-1,000-yard seasons and potentially break the record for most receiving yards by a running back. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, are eyeing the team sack record set by the legendary 1984 Chicago Bears.
Records are made to be broken, and as the regular season winds down, the NFL’s brightest stars are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. For Myles Garrett, the quest for the sack record is more than just a personal milestone—it’s a testament to his relentless drive, elite talent, and the enduring allure of chasing football immortality.
With one game left to play and history still within his grasp, Garrett’s journey is far from over. The football world waits with bated breath, eager to see if the Browns’ defensive dynamo can finally seize his place atop the record books in the season’s final chapter.
