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          How active NFL players continue to redefine all-time sack list

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          Myles Garrett recounts 'shock and joy' of being traded to Rams (1:26)

          • Sarah BarshopSep 14, 2026, 03:35 PM
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              Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated.
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          Last season, defensive end Myles Garrett won his second Defensive Player of the Year award after setting the NFL's single-season record with 23 sacks with the Cleveland Browns.

          This season, he'll continue his climb up the NFL's all-time sack list as a member of the Los Angeles Rams after a blockbuster trade in June -- making the Rams favorites to win the Super Bowl, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, heading into the season.

          Garrett entered the season with 125.5 career sacks, which was tied for 20th in NFL history and third among the other six active players -- Von Miller (No. 9), Cameron Jordan (No. 17), Calais Campbell (No. 25), T.J. Watt (No. 26), Danielle Hunter (tied for No. 27) and Khalil Mack (T-29th) -- in the top 30.

          Joining the top 30 soon could be Aaron Donald, who un-retired to join Garrett on the Rams' defensive line. Donald's 111 sacks currently sits two behind 30th.

          As for Garrett, he entered his 10th season in the NFL averaging approximately 14 sacks per season. If he were to replicate that production, he would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who currently sits at No. 7 all-time. If Garrett were to have another historic season, he would surpass Michael Strahan (No. 6) and approach top-five all-time territory.

          Miller, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys in August, can also pass Strahan in his 15th season -- as he sits only three sacks behind him.

          But Garrett's 125.5 career sacks were 10.5 more than any other player since his rookie season in 2017, according to ESPN Research, heading into the seaosn. The pass rusher recorded at least 14 sacks in each of the past five seasons, the longest such streak by any player since 1982.

          If Garrett has 18.5 or more sacks this season, he will hold the record for the most over a two-season span since 1982, according to ESPN Research, and his current ascension up the all-time list ranks as the second-fastest pace among the top five all time behind only Reggie White.

          As we look at how the sack list is redefined this season, we'll highlight milestones across the NFL landscape
          We will update this file as the active players move up, and we'll add nuggets and milestones throughout the season.

          Week 1 update

          Of all of the active sack leaders, Watt was the only one to record a sack, finishing the game with two to move to a tie with Campbell for 25th.

          And while Donald was held out of the Rams' Week 1 game, Garrett will be out for at least the next four after failing to record a tackle in Australia and landing on injured reserve after having to have arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

          After the Rams' opening loss, Garrett said this was "the worst version of myself that I've put out there."