List of NFL annual sacks leaders explained

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.^[1] Michael Strahan of the New York Giants and T. J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers hold the official record with 22.5, which Strahan set during the 2001 season, and Watt matched during the 2021 season.^[2] In 2013, the NFL created the Deacon Jones Award to recognize the annual leader in sacks.^[3] 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 in the NFL
Sacks	The total number of sacks the player had
GP	The number of games played by a player during the season
	Pro Football Hall of Fame member
^	The player is an active player
	Player set the single-season sacks 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.^{[4] [5]}

Season! scope=col

Leader	scope=col	Sacks	scope=col		scope=col	Team	scope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=row			11.0*	12	Baltimore Colts	^[6] ^[7]
scope=row			17.5*	14	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[8]
scope=row			16.0	14	New York Giants	^[9]
scope=row		(2)	20.5*	14	New York Giants
scope=row			22.0*	14	Los Angeles Rams	^[10]
scope=row		(2)	19.0	14	Los Angeles Rams
scope=row			18.5	14	Dallas Cowboys	^[11]
scope=row		(3)	21.5	14	Los Angeles Rams
scope=row		(4)	22.0	14	Los Angeles Rams
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2			15.0	14	Minnesota Vikings	^[12]
(5)	Los Angeles Rams
scope=row			17.5	14	Oakland Raiders	^[13]
scope=row			18.0	14	San Francisco 49ers	^[14]
scope=row			18.5	14	New York Giants	^[15]
scope=row			18.5	14	Miami Dolphins	^[16]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2			15.0	14	Los Angeles Rams	^[17]
	^[18]
scope=row			18.0	14	Baltimore Colts	^[19]
scope=row			21.5	14	Cincinnati Bengals	^[20]
scope=row			20.0	14	Dallas Cowboys	^[21]
scope=row			23.0*	16	Detroit Lions	^[22]
scope=row		(2)	20.5	16	Los Angeles Rams
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2		(2)	17.5	15	Detroit Lions
	San Diego Chargers	^[23]
scope=row			20.5	16	New York Jets	^[24]
scope=row			11.5	9	Minnesota Vikings	^[25]
scope=row			19.0	16	New York Jets	^[26]
scope=row		(2)	22.0	16	New York Jets
scope=row			17.0	16	Chicago Bears	^[27]
scope=row			20.5	16	New York Giants	^[28]
scope=row			21.0	12	Philadelphia Eagles	^[29]
scope=row		(2)	18.0	16	Philadelphia Eagles
scope=row			21.0	16	Minnesota Vikings	^[30]
scope=row			20.0	15	Kansas City Chiefs	^[31]
scope=row			17.0	16	New Orleans Saints	^[32]
scope=row			19.0	16	Philadelphia Eagles	^[33]
scope=row			15.0	16	Kansas City Chiefs	^[34]
scope=row			14.0	16	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[35]
scope=row			17.5	15	Buffalo Bills	^[36]
scope=row		(2)	14.5	16	Carolina Panthers
scope=row			15.5	16	Minnesota Vikings	^[37]
scope=row			16.5	16	Seattle Seahawks	^[38]
scope=row			17.0	16	St. Louis Rams	^[39]
scope=row			17.0	16	New Orleans Saints	^[40]
scope=row			22.5	16	New York Giants	^[41]
scope=row			18.5	16	Miami Dolphins	^[42]
scope=row		(2)	18.5	16	New York Giants
scope=row			16.0	16	Indianapolis Colts	^[43]
scope=row			16.0	16	Oakland Raiders	^[44]
scope=row			17.0	12	San Diego Chargers	^[45]
scope=row			15.5	14	Kansas City Chiefs	^[46]
scope=row			20.0	16	Dallas Cowboys	^[47]
scope=row			17.0	16	Denver Broncos	^[48]
scope=row		(2)	15.5	16	Dallas Cowboys
scope=row		(2)	22.0	16	Minnesota Vikings
scope=row			20.5	16	Houston Texans	^[49]
scope=row			19.5	16	Indianapolis Colts	^[50]
scope=row		^	22.0	16	Kansas City Chiefs	^[51]
scope=row		(2)	17.5	16	Houston Texans
scope=row			15.5	16	Atlanta Falcons	^[52]
scope=row			17.0	16	Arizona Cardinals	^[53]
scope=row			20.5	16	Los Angeles Rams	^[54]
scope=row		^	19.5	16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	^[55]
scope=row		^	15.0	15	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[56]
scope=row		^ (2)	22.5	15	Pittsburgh Steelers
scope=row		^	18.5	16	San Francisco 49ers	^[57]
scope=row		^ (3)	19.0	17	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[58]

AFL annual sacks leaders

Key

Symbol	Meaning
Leader	The player who recorded the most sacks in the AFL
Sacks	The total number of sacks the player had
GP	The number of games played by a player during the season
	Player set the single-season sacks record
(#)	Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list

Season! scope=col

Leader	scope=col	Sacks	scope=col		scope=col	Team	scope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	1960		10.0*	14	Dallas Texans	^[59]
	12	Oakland Raiders	^[60]
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2	1961		8.0	14	Houston Oilers	^[61]
	San Diego Chargers	^[62]
scope=row	1962	(2)	10.0	14	Houston Oilers
scope=row	1963		8.0	14	Boston Patriots	^[63]
scope=row	1964		15.5*	14	Buffalo Bills	^[64]
scope=row	1965	(2)	9.5	14	Boston Patriots
scope=row	1966		12.5	14	New York Jets	^[65]
scope=row	1967		17.0*	14	Oakland Raiders	^[66]
scope=row	1968		14.0	14	New York Jets	^[67]
scope=row	1969		15.5	14	San Diego Chargers	^[68]

Most seasons leading the league

Count! scope=col

Player	scope=col	Seasons	scope=col	Team(s)	scope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=row	5		,,,,	Los Angeles Rams
scope=row	3		,,	Pittsburgh Steelers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=10	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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Smith . Michael David . Pre-1982 sack stats still unofficial, but now widely available . . 30 May 2023 . 12 July 2021 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530181347/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/07/12/pre-1982-sack-stats-still-unofficial-but-now-widely-available/ . live .
2. Web site: NFL Sacks Single-Season Leaders (since 1960) . . 30 May 2023 . en . 14 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221114020812/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_single_season.htm . live .
3. Web site: Deacon Jones Award will honor future NFL sack leaders . . 2013-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530220350/https://www.nfl.com/news/deacon-jones-award-will-honor-future-nfl-sack-leaders-0ap1000000214112 . 2023-05-30 . live . 30 May 2023.
4. Web site: Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference . 2022-01-15 . . en . 2022-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120193014/https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2021/07/pre-1982-sacks-added-to-pro-football-reference/ . live .
5. Web site: Gordon . Grant . Al 'Bubba' Baker on becoming unofficial single-season sack king: 'Tears just started running down my eyes' . . 2 July 2024 . July 13, 2021.
6. Web site: NFL Sacks Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1960) . . 30 May 2023 . en . 5 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205152723/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_year_by_year.htm . live .
7. Web site: Gino Marchetti Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 21 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111138/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MarcGi00.htm . live .
8. Web site: Gene Lipscomb Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 8 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221208224046/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LipsGe00.htm . live .
9. Web site: Jim Katcavage Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404033531/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KatcJi00.htm . live .
10. Web site: Deacon Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 21 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111132/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDe00.htm . live .
11. Web site: George Andrie Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404220350/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndrGe00.htm . live .
12. Web site: Carl Eller Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405052008/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElleCa00.htm . live .
13. Web site: Tony Cline Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 13 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221013172915/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClinTo20.htm . live .
14. Web site: Cedrick Hardman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 12 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512044337/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardCe00.htm . live .
15. Web site: Jack Gregory Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 27 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327012351/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GregJa00.htm . live .
16. Web site: Bill Stanfill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810121907/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StanBi00.htm . live .
17. Web site: Fred Dryer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 4 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221204111133/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DryeFr00.htm . live .
18. Web site: Jack Youngblood Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404140827/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Y/YounJa00.htm . live .
19. Web site: John Dutton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 15 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230315154117/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuttJo00.htm . live .
20. Web site: Coy Bacon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 10 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110025308/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BacoCo00.htm . live .
21. Web site: Harvey Martin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201161354/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MartHa00.htm . live .
22. Web site: Al Baker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20240515130738/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeAl00.htm . 2024-05-15 . live . 30 May 2023 . en.
23. Web site: Gary Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . en . 2023-05-31 . 2023-04-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230409092430/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnGa00.htm . live .
24. Web site: Joe Klecko Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 23 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323025413/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KlecJo00.htm . live .
25. Web site: Doug Martin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 29 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629153918/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MartDo21.htm . live .
26. Web site: Mark Gastineau Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405103515/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GastMa00.htm . live .
27. Web site: Richard Dent Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 22 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322135716/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DentRi00.htm . live .
28. Web site: Lawrence Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20240624224039/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylLa00.htm . 2024-06-24 . live . 31 May 2023 . en.
29. Web site: Reggie White Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 21 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111122/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitRe00.htm . live .
30. Web site: Chris Doleman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 6 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203210/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DoleCh00.htm . live .
31. Web site: Derrick Thomas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530155033/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomDe01.htm . live .
32. Web site: Pat Swilling Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 25 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025092458/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SwilPa00.htm . live .
33. Web site: Clyde Simmons Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 25 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525184317/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmCl00.htm . live .
34. Web site: Neil Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 14 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514105623/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitNe00.htm . live .
35. Web site: Kevin Greene Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 19 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519034808/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeKe00.htm . live .
36. Web site: Bryce Paup Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207162704/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaupBr00.htm . live .
37. Web site: John Randle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 21 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111131/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RandJo00.htm . live .
38. Web site: Michael Sinclair Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 1 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101045530/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SincMi00.htm . live .
39. Web site: Kevin Carter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20231209061614/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CartKe00.htm . 2023-12-09 . live . 31 May 2023 . en.
40. Web site: La'Roi Glover Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 9 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209101118/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GlovLa00.htm . live .
41. Web site: Michael Strahan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 19 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119115903/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraMi02.htm . live .
42. Web site: Jason Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 4 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110804234724/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylJa03.htm . live .
43. Web site: Dwight Freeney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 16 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221734/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreeDw00.htm . live .
44. Web site: Derrick Burgess Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 31 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231194513/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurgDe99.htm . live .
45. Web site: Shawne Merriman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 15 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230315195831/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MerrSh99.htm . live .
46. Web site: Jared Allen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 6 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203203/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleJa22.htm . live .
47. Web site: DeMarcus Ware Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 23 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221123041249/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WareDe99.htm . live .
48. Web site: Elvis Dumervil Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527110331/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DumeEl20.htm . live .
49. Web site: J.J. Watt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 16 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221709/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WattJ.00.htm . live .
50. Web site: Robert Mathis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 5 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105035209/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MathRo20.htm . live .
51. Web site: Justin Houston Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 18 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518074533/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HousJu00.htm . live .
52. Web site: Vic Beasley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127153500/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BeasVi00.htm . live .
53. Web site: Chandler Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 18 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318214038/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneCh03.htm . live .
54. Web site: Aaron Donald Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 21 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521005656/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DonaAa00.htm . live .
55. Web site: Shaquil Barrett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 31 May 2023 . en . 30 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130201632/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarrSh00.htm . live .
56. Web site: T.J. Watt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20240527214139/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WattT.00.htm . 2024-05-27 . live . 30 May 2023 . en.
57. Web site: Nick Bosa Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20240628012129/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BosaNi00.htm . 2024-06-28 . live . 31 May 2023 . en.
58. Web site: T.J. Watt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . http://web.archive.org/web/20240527214139/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WattT.00.htm . 2024-05-27 . live . 30 May 2023 . en.
59. Web site: Mel Branch Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 28 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928165955/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BranMe00.htm . live .
60. Web site: Riley Morris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 20 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420010648/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrRi20.htm . live .
61. Web site: Ed Husmann Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 13 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221013080024/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HusmEd00.htm . live .
62. Web site: Ron Nery Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 22 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210822181648/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NeryRo20.htm . live .
63. Web site: Larry Eisenhauer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 23 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923092807/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EiseLa00.htm . live .
64. Web site: Tom Sestak Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 11 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311090704/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SestTo00.htm . live .
65. Web site: Verlon Biggs Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 15 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415142451/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BiggVe00.htm . live .
66. Web site: Ike Lassiter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 23 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923191551/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LassIk00.htm . live .
67. Web site: Gerry Philbin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 7 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221007155540/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PhilGe00.htm . live .
68. Web site: Steve DeLong Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 30 May 2023 . en . 12 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230212175433/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeLoSt00.htm . live .