1) Garrett sets sack record, Browns rookie class make history
After an offseason featuring a trade request and subsequent contract extension, Myles Garrett capped off the 2025 season by breaking the NFL sack record.
It took Garrett until the fourth quarter of his 17th game, but for anyone trying to put an asterisk on this record, here is some added context:
Hall of Famer Michael Strahan set the record with 22.5 sacks in 16 games in 2001. Giants opponents attempted 521 passes against them that season and took 46 sacks. For simplicity, we will call this 567 “pass plays.”
T.J. Watt tied Strahan’s record in 2021, technically a 17-game season, but did so in just 15 games played that year (he missed two games due to injury). Steelers opponents had 557 pass plays in the games Watt played that season.
Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season in his 17th game played. Browns opponents had 540 pass plays in 2025.
So for those counting at home:
- Strahan: 22.5 sacks in 567 pass plays
- Watt: 22.5 sacks in 557 pass plays
- Garrett: 23.0 sacks in 540 pass plays
While it is true that all counting stat “records” are in danger of being broken in the 17-game season era and beyond, that does not mean they should all have an asterisk next to them. Especially this one.
Enjoy your 23-sack-record and new partnership with Jordan Brand, Myles.
Although the Browns were eliminated from playoff contention five weeks ago, 2025 should give Browns fans some hope for the future. Shedeur Sanders showed promise, Quinshon Judkins scored seven touchdowns in just 14 games, Harold Fannin Jr. set franchise records for a rookie tight end and Carson Schwesinger led all NFL rookies in tackles.
To wrap that all up into some neat context: the 2025 Browns are the only team since the 1970 merger to have a rookie lead them in pass yards (Sanders), rush yards (Judkins), receiving yards (Fannin Jr.) and tackles (Schwesinger) in a season.
Speaking of Schwesinger, if he wins Defensive Rookie of the Year and Garrett takes home the Defensive Player of the Year award as expected, the 2025 Browns would be the fourth team to have both the defensive player and rookie of the year in the same season, joining: the 2013 Ravens (Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs), the 1981 Giants (Lawrence Taylor and … Lawrence Taylor) and the 1974 Steelers (Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert).
