This is a list of National Football League (NFL) players who have led the regular season in sacks each year. Sacks became an official statistic in 1982 and sacks from years prior do not count towards a player's career total. Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams holds the official record with 23, set during the 2025 season.
The Deacon Jones Award was established by the NFL in 2013 to recognize the annual leader in sacks, named after the former defensive end Deacon Jones who led the league in sacks five times. Since 1982, there have only been two players who have led the league in sacks with two different teams, Jared Allen (2007 with the Chiefs and 2011 with the Vikings) and Kevin Greene (1994 with the Steelers and 1996 with the Panthers). The Chiefs and the Vikings have had the most players lead the NFL in sacks with four. Seven players have been the league leader in sacks twice, while T. J. Watt has led the league three times.
NFL annual sacks leaders
+ Key Symbol Meaning Leader The player who recorded the most sacks Sacks Total number of sacks GP Number of games played during the season Pro Football Hall of Fame member ^ Active player * Single-season record (#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Note that the sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.
+ NFL annual sacks leaders by season Season Leader Sacks Team 11* 12 Baltimore Colts 17.5* 14 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 14 New York Giants (2) 20.5* 14 New York Giants 22* 14 Los Angeles Rams (2) 19 14 Los Angeles Rams 18.5 14 Dallas Cowboys (3) 21.5 14 Los Angeles Rams (4) 22 14 Los Angeles Rams 15 14 Minnesota Vikings (5) Los Angeles Rams 17.5 14 Oakland Raiders 18 14 San Francisco 49ers 18.5 14 New York Giants 18.5 14 Miami Dolphins 15 14 Los Angeles Rams 18 14 Baltimore Colts 21.5 14 Cincinnati Bengals 20 14 Dallas Cowboys 23* 16 Detroit Lions (2) 20.5 16 Los Angeles Rams (2) 17.5 15 Detroit Lions San Diego Chargers 20.5 16 New York Jets 11.5 9 Minnesota Vikings 19 16 New York Jets (2) 22 16 New York Jets 17 16 Chicago Bears 20.5 16 New York Giants 21 12 Philadelphia Eagles (2) 18 16 Philadelphia Eagles 21 16 Minnesota Vikings 20 15 Kansas City Chiefs 17 16 New Orleans Saints 19 16 Philadelphia Eagles 15 16 Kansas City Chiefs 14 16 Pittsburgh Steelers 17.5 15 Buffalo Bills (2) 14.5 16 Carolina Panthers 15.5 16 Minnesota Vikings 16.5 16 Seattle Seahawks 17 16 St. Louis Rams 17 16 New Orleans Saints 22.5 16 New York Giants 18.5 16 Miami Dolphins (2) 18.5 16 New York Giants 16 16 Indianapolis Colts 16 16 Oakland Raiders 17 12 San Diego Chargers 15.5 14 Kansas City Chiefs 20 16 Dallas Cowboys 17 16 Denver Broncos (2) 15.5 16 Dallas Cowboys (2) 22 16 Minnesota Vikings 20.5 16 Houston Texans 19.5 16 Indianapolis Colts 22 16 Kansas City Chiefs (2) 17.5 16 Houston Texans 15.5 16 Atlanta Falcons 17 16 Arizona Cardinals 20.5 16 Los Angeles Rams 19.5 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ^ 15 15 Pittsburgh Steelers ^ (2) 22.5 15 Pittsburgh Steelers ^ 18.5 16 San Francisco 49ers ^ (3) 19 17 Pittsburgh Steelers ^ 17.5 17 Cincinnati Bengals ^ 23*17Cleveland Browns
AFL annual sacks leaders + Key Symbol Meaning Leader The player who recorded the most sacks Sacks Total number of sacks GP Number of games played during the season * Single-season record (#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
+ AFL annual sacks leaders by season Season Leader Sacks Team 1960 10* 14 Dallas Texans 12 Oakland Raiders 1961 8 14 Houston Oilers San Diego Chargers 1962 (2) 10 14 Houston Oilers 1963 8 14 Boston Patriots 1964 15.5* 14 Buffalo Bills 1965 (2) 9.5 14 Boston Patriots 1966 12.5 14 New York Jets 1967 17* 14 Oakland Raiders 1968 14 14 New York Jets 1969 15.5 14 San Diego Chargers
Most seasons leading the league + Count Player Seasons Team(s) 5 , , , , Los Angeles Rams 3 , , Pittsburgh Steelers 2 , Kansas City Chiefs / Minnesota Vikings , Detroit Lions , New York Jets , Pittsburgh Steelers / Carolina Panthers , New York Giants , New York Giants , Dallas Cowboys , Houston Texans , Philadelphia Eagles , Los Angeles Rams
See also List of NFL career sacks leaders List of NFL annual interceptions leaders List of NFL annual forced fumbles leaders
References