Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett broke the NFL's single-season sack record against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The 29-year-old had entered Week 17 half-a-sack behind the previous record of 22.5 set by New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan in the 2001/02 season, which was matched in 2021/22 by TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Having been stifled by Pittsburgh, he eventually made history with sack No 23 on the final day of the NFL regular season when he brought down Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of their 20-18 victory in Week 18.
Garrett was selected as the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and has recorded double-digit sacks in eight straight campaigns. He was also named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Garrett, who signed a four-year $160m contract this offseason, lifted his tally to 125.5 career sacks, marking the second-most by a player in his first nine seasons in the NFL since 1982.
He is the first player ever to post at least 12 sacks in six straight seasons, his milestone moment representing the 12th time he has sacked Burrow, snapping a tie with Lamar Jackson as his most-sacked quarterback.
His record-breaking season included a five-sack display in Cleveland's defeat to the New England Patriots in Week Nine, followed by four against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks later.
"It was everything I expected," Garrett, whose watched on from the stands as he made the record-breaking sack, said.
"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 dropback the whole game.
"I just knew that if I did, I'd have to make that moment count. The feeling couldn't be better."
Garrett continued: "Find your dreams come true. Been waiting on this my whole life, my whole football career. I knew I had it in me.
"I wanted that 25 [sacks]. They made it real difficult these last two games, especially, but really these last three. That'll be the next journey, trying to go out there and get 25."
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said: "That's history. He's the sack king. That's unbelievable.
"They've been playing this game for a long time, and for him to go get that in the circumstances, with the degree of difficulty in which he got it this season, is unbelievable.
"He's the Defensive Player of the Year. You could make him the MVP if I had a vote. And I think the reaction of his teammates is genuine. That's real. These guys care about each other."
Your Site NFL's Phoebe Schecter:
"Garrett is literally making history. He's been consistent all year long. His whole career is consistent, and this is the epitome of that.
"He stays in the best shape possible, treats his body like a temple and is able to go out there and make unbelievable plays happen in a team that isn't good."
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