List of NFL career sacks leaders explained

This is a list of National Football League (NFL) players who have reached the 100-sack milestone.

The NFL began to keep track of sacks in 1982, with 43 players having reached the milestone in that time. Using unofficial record-keeping (dating back to 1960), an additional 21 players have finished with 100 or more career sacks, leading to a total of 64 players.

List of NFL players with 100 official career sacks

Key

Symbol	Meaning
Sacks	The total number of sacks the player recorded
	Pro Football Hall of Fame member
^	The player is an active player

Updated through the NFL season.

scope=col	Rank	scope=col	Pos.	scope=col	Player	scope=col	Seasons by team	scope=col	Sacks	scope=col class="unsortable"
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	1	DE	Bruce Smith	Buffalo Bills	200.0	^[1] ^[2]
Washington Redskins
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	2	DE	Reggie White	Philadelphia Eagles	198.0	^[3]
Green Bay Packers
Carolina Panthers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=4	3	OLB/DE	Kevin Greene	Los Angeles Rams	160.0	^[4]
Pittsburgh Steelers
Carolina Panthers
San Francisco 49ers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	4	OLB/DE	Julius Peppers	Carolina Panthers	159.5	^[5]
Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	5	DE	Chris Doleman	Minnesota Vikings	150.5	^[6]
Atlanta Falcons
San Francisco 49ers
scope=row	6	DE	Michael Strahan	New York Giants	141.5	^[7]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	7	OLB/DE	Jason Taylor	Miami Dolphins	139.5	^[8]
Washington Redskins
New York Jets
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	8	OLB/DE	Terrell Suggs	Baltimore Ravens	139.0	^[9]
Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	9	OLB/DE	DeMarcus Ware	Dallas Cowboys	138.5	^[10]
Denver Broncos
scope=rowgroup rowspan=6	10	DE	Richard Dent	Chicago Bears	137.5	^[11]
San Francisco 49ers
Indianapolis Colts
Philadelphia Eagles
DT	John Randle	Minnesota Vikings	^[12]
	Seattle Seahawks
scope=rowgroup rowspan=4	12	DE	Jared Allen	Kansas City Chiefs	136.0	^[13]
Minnesota Vikings (
Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	13	OLB/DE	John Abraham	New York Jets	133.5	^[14]
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	14	DE	Leslie O'Neal	San Diego Chargers St. Louis Rams Kansas City Chiefs	132.5	^[15]
OLB	Lawrence Taylor	New York Giants	^[16]
scope=row	16	OLB/DE	Rickey Jackson	New Orleans Saints San Francisco 49ers	128.0	^[17]
scope=row	17	OLB	Derrick Thomas	Kansas City Chiefs	126.5	^[18]
scope=row	18	OLB/DE	Dwight Freeney	Indianapolis Colts San Diego Chargers Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions	125.5	^[19]
scope=row	19	OLB/DE	Von Miller^	Denver Broncos Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills (–present)	123.5	^[20]
scope=row	20	OLB/DE	Robert Mathis	Indianapolis Colts	123.0	^[21]
scope=row	21	DE	Simeon Rice	Arizona Cardinals Tampa Bay Buccaneers Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts	122.0	^[22]
scope=row	22	DE	Clyde Simmons	Philadelphia Eagles Arizona Cardinals Jacksonville Jaguars Cincinnati Bengals Chicago Bears	121.5	^[23]
scope=row	23	DE	Cameron Jordan^	New Orleans Saints (–present)	117.5	^[24]
scope=row	24	DE	J. J. Watt	Houston Texans Arizona Cardinals	114.5	^[25]
scope=row	25	DE	Sean Jones	Los Angeles Raiders Houston Oilers Green Bay Packers	113.0	^[26]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	26	OLB/DE	Chandler Jones	New England Patriots Arizona Cardinals Las Vegas Raiders	112.0	^[27]
OLB	Justin Houston^	Kansas City Chiefs Indianapolis Colts Baltimore Ravens Carolina Panthers Miami Dolphins	^[28]
scope=row	28	DT	Aaron Donald	St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams (–)	111.0	^[29]
scope=row	29	DE	Greg Townsend	Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles	109.5	^[30]
scope=row	30	OLB/DE	Pat Swilling	New Orleans Saints Detroit Lions Oakland Raiders	107.5	^[31]
scope=row	31	DE	Trace Armstrong	Chicago Bears Miami Dolphins Oakland Raiders	106.0	^[32]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	32	OLB/DE	Elvis Dumervil	Denver Broncos Baltimore Ravens San Francisco 49ers	105.5	^[33]
DE	Calais Campbell^	Arizona Cardinals Jacksonville Jaguars Baltimore Ravens Atlanta Falcons Miami Dolphins (–present)	^[34]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	34	DE	Kevin Carter	St. Louis Rams Tennessee Titans Miami Dolphins Tampa Bay Buccaneers	104.5	^[35]
DE	Neil Smith	Kansas City Chiefs Denver Broncos San Diego Chargers	^[36]
scope=row	36	DE	Jim Jeffcoat	Dallas Cowboys Buffalo Bills	102.5	^[37]
scope=row	37	OLB/DE	Robert Quinn	St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears Philadelphia Eagles	102.0	^[38]
scope=row	38	OLB/DE	Khalil Mack^	Oakland Raiders Chicago Bears Los Angeles Chargers (–present)	101.5	^[39]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=3	39	DE	William Fuller	Houston Oilers Philadelphia Eagles San Diego Chargers	100.5	^[40]
OLB/DE	Charles Haley	San Francisco 49ers Dallas Cowboys	^[41]
OLB/DE	Cameron Wake	Miami Dolphins Tennessee Titans	^[42]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	42	DE	Carlos Dunlap	Cincinnati Bengals Seattle Seahawks Kansas City Chiefs	100.0	^[43]
OLB	Andre Tippett	New England Patriots	^[44]

Unofficial sacks

In 2000, John Turney and Nick Webster, members of the Pro Football Researchers Association, conducted extensive research to create a more complete record of sacks in the NFL. After examining the play-by-play records of every NFL team as well as game film at NFL films they compiled a list of players with 100 sacks beginning in 1960. By including the unofficial sack/dump records from 1960 to 1981, the following players also qualify as members of the 100-Sack Club.^{[45] [46]}

Additionally, LBs Lawrence Taylor and Rickey Jackson played their rookie seasons in 1981, which was the last season that sacks were not officially tracked. Taylor had 9.5 and Jackson had 8.0 sacks that season, which would increase their totals to 142.0 and 136.0 sacks, respectively. These sacks would place Taylor at 9th and Jackson tied at 16th (with Jared Allen) on the unofficial sack list.

Unofficial and Official Ranks are based on the top 250 from Pro Football Reference.

Key

Symbol	Meaning
Sacks	The total number of sacks the player recorded
	Pro Football Hall of Fame member

Updated through the NFL season.

scope=col	Unofficial rank	scope=col	Official rank	scope=col	Pos.	scope=col	Player	scope=col	Seasons by team	scope=col	Unofficial sack total	scope=col	Official sack total	scope=col class= "unsortable"
3	Z—	DE	Deacon Jones	Los Angeles Rams (1961–1971) San Diego Chargers (1972–1973) Washington Redskins (1974)	173.5	Z—	^[47]
6		DE	Jack Youngblood	Los Angeles Rams (1971–1984)	151.5	24.0	^[48]
8		DT	Alan Page	Minnesota Vikings (1967–1978) Chicago Bears (1978–1981)	148.5	Z—	^[49]
T18		DE	Carl Eller	Minnesota Vikings (1964–1978) Seattle Seahawks (1979)	133.5		^[50]
21	T121	DE	Al Baker	Detroit Lions (1978–1982) St. Louis Cardinals (1983–1986) Cleveland Browns (1987, 1989–1990) Minnesota Vikings (1988)	131.0	65.5	^[51]
T22	Z—	DE/DT	Coy Bacon	Los Angeles Rams (1968–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973–1975) Cincinnati Bengals (1976–1977) Washington Redskins (1978–1981)	130.5	Z—	^[52]
		DE	Jim Marshall	Cleveland Browns (1960) Minnesota Vikings (1961–1979)			^[53]
24		DE	Claude Humphrey	Atlanta Falcons (1968–1978) Philadelphia Eagles (1979–1981)	130.0		^[54]
29		DE	Cedrick Hardman	San Francisco 49ers (1970–1979) Oakland Raiders (1980–1981)	122.5		^[55]
33	T44	DE	Jacob Green	Seattle Seahawks (1980–1992) San Francisco 49ers (1992)	115.5	97.5	^[56]
35	Z—	DE	Harvey Martin	Dallas Cowboys (1973–1983)	114.0	10.0	^[57]
T37		DE	Lyle Alzado	Denver Broncos (1971–1978) Cleveland Browns (1979–1981) Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1985)	112.0	23.0	^[58]
T40	T199	DT	Randy White	Dallas Cowboys (1975–1988)	111.0	52.0	^[59]
T43	T92	DE	Mark Gastineau	New York Jets (1979–1988)	107.5	74.0	^[60]
T45	Z—	DE	Jack Gregory	Cleveland Browns (1967–1971, 1979) New York Giants (1972–1978)	106.0	Z—	^[61]
	T165	DE	Too Tall Jones	Dallas Cowboys (1974–1978, 1980–1989)		57.5	^[62]
50	Z—	DE	Elvin Bethea	Houston Oilers (1968–1983)	105.0	1.0	^[63]
53	T45	DE	Dexter Manley	Washington Redskins (1981–1989) Phoenix Cardinals (1990) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1991)	103.5	97.5	^[64]
T54	Z—	DE	Fred Dryer	New York Giants (1969–1971) Los Angeles Rams (1972–1981)	103.0	Z—	^[65]
		DE	Tony McGee	Chicago Bears (1971–1973) New England Patriots (1974–1981) Washington Redskins (1982–1984)		21.0	^[66]
T62		DT	Alex Karras	Detroit Lions (1958–1962, 1964–1970)	100.0	Z—	^[67]

See also

• List of NFL annual sacks leaders

Notes and References

1. Web site: NFL Career Sacks Leaders . January 1, 2020 . . November 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161126090410/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_career.htm . live .
2. Web site: Bruce Smith stats . August 27, 2013 . . October 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181014091325/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitBr00.htm . live .
3. Web site: Reggie White stats . August 27, 2013 . . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111122/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitRe00.htm . live .
4. Web site: Kevin Greene stats . August 27, 2013 . . May 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519034808/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeKe00.htm . live .
5. Web site: Julius Peppers stats . December 17, 2021 . . December 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218051214/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PeppJu99.htm . live .
6. Web site: Chris Doleman stats . August 27, 2013 . . March 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203210/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DoleCh00.htm . live .
7. Web site: Michael Strahan stats . August 27, 2013 . . January 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119115903/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraMi02.htm . live .
8. Web site: Jason Taylor stats . August 27, 2013 . . August 4, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110804234724/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylJa03.htm . live .
9. Web site: Terrell Suggs stats . December 17, 2021 . . October 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171006212238/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SuggTe99.htm . live .
10. Web site: DeMarcus Ware stats . August 27, 2013 . . November 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221123041249/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WareDe99.htm . live .
11. Web site: Richard Dent stats . August 27, 2013 . . March 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322135716/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DentRi00.htm . live .
12. Web site: John Randle stats . August 27, 2013 . . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111131/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RandJo00.htm . live .
13. Web site: Jared Allen stats . August 27, 2013 . . March 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203203/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleJa22.htm . live .
14. Web site: John Abraham stats . August 27, 2013 . . August 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130818205711/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AbraJo00.htm . live .
15. Web site: Leslie O'Neal stats . August 27, 2013 . . August 20, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130820044531/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/ONeaLe00.htm . live .
16. Web site: Lawrence Taylor stats . December 17, 2021 . . May 12, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080512010420/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylLa00.htm . live .
17. Web site: Rickey Jackson stats . August 27, 2013 . . June 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110622111240/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JackRi01.htm . live .
18. Web site: Derrick Thomas stats . August 27, 2013 . . May 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530155033/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomDe01.htm . live .
19. Web site: Dwight Freeney stats . April 20, 2018 . . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221734/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreeDw00.htm . live .
20. Web site: Von Miller stats . December 17, 2021 . . December 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211215235823/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MillVo00.htm . live .
21. Web site: Robert Mathis stats . November 11, 2013 . . January 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105035209/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MathRo20.htm . live .
22. Web site: Simeon Rice stats . August 27, 2013 . . September 8, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130908063153/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RiceSi00.htm . live .
23. Web site: Clyde Simmons stats . August 27, 2013 . . May 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525184317/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmCl00.htm . live .
24. Web site: Cameron Jordan stats . December 19, 2021 . . March 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190325145847/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JordCa00.htm . live .
25. Web site: J. J. Watt stats . December 18, 2021 . . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221709/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WattJ.00.htm . live .
26. Web site: Sean Jones stats . August 27, 2013 . . July 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190731220934/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneSe00.htm . live .
27. Web site: Chandler Jones stats . December 18, 2021 . . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318214038/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneCh03.htm . live .
28. Web site: Justin Houston stats . December 18, 2021 . . May 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518074533/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HousJu00.htm . live .
29. Web site: Aaron Donald stats . December 17, 2021 . . May 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521005656/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DonaAa00.htm . live .
30. Web site: Greg Townsend stats . August 28, 2013 . . September 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130916215619/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TownGr00.htm . live .
31. Web site: Pat Swilling stats . August 27, 2013 . . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025092458/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SwilPa00.htm . live .
32. Web site: Trace Armstrong stats . August 28, 2013 . . August 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829220846/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/ArmsTr00.htm . live .
33. Web site: Elvis Dumervil stats . October 24, 2017 . . May 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527110331/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DumeEl20.htm . live .
34. Web site: Calais Campbell stats . October 15, 2023 . . October 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023223821/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CampCa99.htm . live .
35. Web site: Kevin Carter stats . August 28, 2013 . . April 16, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190416012036/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CartKe00.htm . live .
36. Web site: Neil Smith stats . August 28, 2013 . . May 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514105623/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitNe00.htm . live .
37. Web site: Jim Jeffcoat stats . August 28, 2013 . . September 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130917161253/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffJi20.htm . live .
38. Web site: Robert Quinn Stats . January 3, 2022 . . en . January 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220104194925/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Q/QuinRo00.htm . live .
39. Web site: Khalil Mack stats . January 3, 2024 . . March 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307140123/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MackKh00.htm . live .
40. Web site: William Fuller stats . August 28, 2013 . . August 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130821153727/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FullWi00.htm . live .
41. Web site: Charles Haley stats . August 28, 2013 . . September 5, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130905235522/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HaleCh00.htm . live .
42. Web site: Cameron Wake stats . December 18, 2021 . . December 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218051210/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WakeCa00.htm . live .
43. Web site: Carlos Dunlap stats . December 17, 2021 . . July 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708183438/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DunlCa99.htm . live .
44. Web site: Andre Tippett stats . August 28, 2013 . . September 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130916211326/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TippAn00.htm . live .
45. News: Sack Story: Setting the Record Straight on All of Those QB Takedowns . June 26, 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081105075549/http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_1999/turney_062600.asp . November 5, 2008 . dead . . Turney . John . November 8, 2017.
46. Web site: Pre-1982 Sacks Added to Pro Football Reference . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120193014/https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2021/07/pre-1982-sacks-added-to-pro-football-reference/ . 2022-01-20 . live . September 12, 2021.
47. Web site: Deacon Jones stats . November 8, 2017 . . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111132/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDe00.htm . live .
48. Web site: Jack Youngblood stats . November 8, 2017 . . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404140827/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Y/YounJa00.htm . live .
49. Web site: Alan Page stats . November 8, 2017 . . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111134/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PageAl00.htm . live .
50. Web site: Carl Eller stats . November 8, 2017 . . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405052008/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElleCa00.htm . live .
51. Web site: Al Baker stats . November 8, 2017 . . January 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190104085757/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeAl00.htm . live .
52. Web site: Coy Bacon stats . November 8, 2017 . . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110025308/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BacoCo00.htm . live .
53. Web site: Jim Marshall stats . November 8, 2017 . . November 9, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171109145256/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MarsJi00.htm . live .
54. Web site: Claude Humphrey stats . September 12, 2021 . . September 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928125852/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HumpCl00.htm . live .
55. Web site: Cedrick Hardman stats . November 8, 2017 . . May 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512044337/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardCe00.htm . live .
56. Web site: Jacob Green stats . December 18, 2021 . . December 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218053613/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeJa01.htm . live .
57. Web site: Harvey Martin stats . December 18, 2021 . . February 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201161354/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MartHa00.htm . live .
58. Web site: Lyle Alzado stats . September 12, 2021 . . September 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210911040628/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlzaLy00.htm . live .
59. Web site: Randy White stats . December 18, 2021 . . March 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331022934/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitRa00.htm . live .
60. Web site: Mark Gastineau stats . September 12, 2021 . . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405103515/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GastMa00.htm . live .
61. Web site: Jack Gregory stats . September 12, 2021 . . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327012351/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GregJa00.htm . live .
62. Web site: Too Tall Jones stats . September 12, 2021 . . January 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180113094302/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneEd00.htm . live .
63. Web site: Elvin Bethea stats . September 12, 2021 . . October 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008013923/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BethEl00.htm . live .
64. Web site: Dexter Manley stats . September 12, 2021 . . September 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210913003112/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/ManlDe00.htm . live .
65. Web site: Fred Dryer stats . September 12, 2021 . . December 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221204111133/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DryeFr00.htm . live .
66. Web site: Tony McGee stats . September 12, 2021 . . September 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210913003046/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McGeTo20.htm . live .
67. Web site: Alex Karras stats . September 12, 2021 . . August 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210831233014/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KarrAl00.htm . live .