Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett set a new NFL single-season sack record with 23 takedowns in a Week 18 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The milestone came late in the fourth quarter when Garrett sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The achievement sparked celebrations but also drew criticism from Bengals coach Zac Taylor over a game pause.
In the final regular-season game on January 4, 2026, Myles Garrett etched his name into NFL history during the Cleveland Browns' 20-18 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati. With 5:17 remaining on a first-and-10 play, Garrett exploded off the line with a 0.23-second get-off—his fastest of the season—beating Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to sack Joe Burrow for his 23rd takedown, surpassing the 22.5-sack mark shared by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021).
Garrett, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, had entered the game tied for the record after a sackless Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and no sacks in the first three quarters versus Cincinnati. He admitted to pre-game nerves: "I can't lie, I was nervous as hell. I had a dream last night that I didn't get it and all the feelings that come with that. I woke up, I think I was sweating."
The moment led to a brief pause as officials allowed the Browns to celebrate, with teammates hoisting Garrett and his parents watching from the stands. Defensive tackle Shelby Harris even high-fived the referee in jest. However, Bengals coach Zac Taylor expressed frustration over the delay, noting the team was down 17-12 and pushing for a go-ahead score. "There's five minutes left in our season," Taylor said. "We're playing for our lives here. I was never told that we're going to stop the game."
Despite a slow start with four sacks in his first six games, Garrett erupted for 18 over the next nine, including five against the New England Patriots in Week 8. Though the Browns finished 5-12 and missed the playoffs, Garrett's performance solidifies his status as the era's top pass rusher. He plans to celebrate simply: "Probably with some pizza and ice cream."
Notable figures like LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and Micah Parsons congratulated him online. While official NFL records date to 1982, unofficial tallies credit Al Baker with 23 sacks in 1978.
