Between the quarterback carousel, the 4-12 record, and the general feeling of “here we go again,” there hasn’t been much to cheer about regarding the Cleveland Browns. But on Sunday, amidst the wreckage of a lost year, Myles Garrett decided to give the city one shining, undeniable moment of greatness.
He didn’t just knock down Joe Burrow; he knocked down the door of history.
In the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals, Garrett finally got home. It was almost poetic that it happened against Burrow. These two have a history. Garrett has introduced Burrow to the turf more times than a groundskeeper. In fact, Garrett joked earlier in the week that he’s seen Burrow looking up from the grass, saying “Hi Myles” too many times to count. But this specific takedown was different. This was number 23.
The New Sack King Stands Alone
For years, the number 22.5 has loomed over pass rushers like an impenetrable wall. Michael Strahan set it back in 2001. T.J. Watt matched it in 2021. It seemed like the ceiling for what was physically possible in the modern NFL.
Garrett just smashed right through it.
By taking down Burrow, Garrett officially moved past the legends and claimed the single-season crown for himself. What makes this feat even more absurd is the context. It is infinitely harder to rack up sacks when you are the only thing the opposing offense has to worry about. Double teams, chip blocks, and holding calls that refs conveniently ignore. Garrett faced it all season long on a struggling team and still found a way to wreck games.
Chasing Greatness In a Forgettable Season
There is a distinct human element to this record that stats don’t show. It would have been easy for Garrett to pack it in weeks ago. The playoffs were out of reach. The coaching staff’s future is up in the air. He’s 30 years old and has already secured a massive contract extension. Many players in his position would have made “business decisions” to protect their bodies for next year.
Garrett played like it was the Super Bowl. That competitive fire is what separates the stars from the immortals. He entered the game needing just a fraction of a sack to tie the record, but he wasn’t interested in sharing. He wanted the whole pie.
What Comes Next For Garrett?
Now that he sits atop the single-season mountain, the conversation naturally shifts to his place in history. He’s currently tied for 20th on the all-time career sack list, matching Dwight Freeney. The ultimate target is Bruce Smith’s career record of 200, but that is a conversation for another day.
But for at least one Sunday, the scoreboard didn’t matter as much as the history book. The Browns might have had a season to forget, but Garrett gave us a performance we will remember forever.
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