By Chalien Dantes

It all came down to the 17th game of the season, and Myles Garrett didn’t disappoint. The Browns star ripped past Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt to set a new single-season sack record with 23.

The achievement is historic, even if some will note that Strahan’s 22.5 sacks came in a 16-game season. Garrett’s path to the record wasn’t easy. He had 21.5 sacks through 14 games but barely made an impact in Week 16 and none last week, until just over five minutes remained in the season, when he brought down Joe Burrow to claim the crown.

Garrett exploded off the right side of the defensive line, forcing Burrow down before he could escape. Watt had tied Strahan in 2021 during a 17-game season, getting a crucial four sacks in the penultimate game to reach the mark. Now, Garrett, who turned 30 last week, will likely earn his second Defensive Player of the Year award after previously winning in 2023.

Garrett requested a trade from the Browns during the offseason to chase a championship, but a record-breaking $160 million contract kept him in Cleveland, and he’s making every dollar count. To top it off, Garrett’s Browns edged the Bengals 20-18 on a walk-off field goal, giving him the perfect ending to a record-breaking season.