Myles Garrett has broken the NFL‘s single-season sack record, notching sack No. 23 in the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
“Man, it was everything I expected,” Garrett told reporters post-game about the historic sack. “It was so tough, I knew they were going to make it difficult. I don’t think I saw more than three singles on a real drop back the whole game. And I just knew that if I did, I’d have to make that moment count, and, man, feeling couldn’t be better.”
With 5:06 left in the fourth quarter, Garrett sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the record breaker. Garrett was double-teamed throughout the game, which the Browns were leading 17-12 at the time of the sack.
The Cleveland Browns‘ star defensive end surpassed the previous record of 22.5 held by FOX Sports analyst and Giants legend Michael Strahan (in 16 games in 2001) and Steelers veteran T.J. Watt (in 17 games in 2021). The NFL officially started recording sacks in 1982.
Strahan was among those to congratulate Garrett in the aftermath of his epic day.
“Myles, congratulations, my friend. Welcome to the elite class of the NFL,” Strahan said in a video message. “You know how I feel about you. I’ve always been proud of you. I always loved watching you, always been the biggest fan of you. I know one day you’re going to be in the Hall of Fame, and I’m going to be right there sitting behind you.”
Strahan also took it a step further and offered a prediction on Garrett’s future, as he suggested this won’t be the last time the 30-year-old is in this position.
“I know you still have a lot of football left in you, man,” he continued. “So, even though this record is what it is now, I do have a feeling you actually could break it in the future. But hopefully when you do it, I’m there to watch in person. … Congratulations to you and your family because this is an award for everybody.”
Garrett began the season with just 4.5 sacks through the Browns’ first six games before going on a roll. He had five sacks on Oct. 26 against the New England Patriots, four against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16 and three against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 23.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
