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]
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. [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.
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. [4] [5]
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 |
Season | Leader | Sacks | GP | Team | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | Mel Branch | 10* | 14 | Dallas Texans | [6] [59] |
Riley Morris | 12 | Oakland Raiders | [6] [60] | ||
1961 | Ed Husmann | 8 | 14 | Houston Oilers | [6] [61] |
Ron Nery | San Diego Chargers | [6] [62] | |||
1962 | Ed Husmann (2) | 10 | 14 | Houston Oilers | [6] [61] |
1963 | Larry Eisenhauer | 8 | 14 | Boston Patriots | [6] [63] |
1964 | Tom Sestak | 15.5* | 14 | Buffalo Bills | [6] [64] |
1965 | Larry Eisenhauer (2) | 9.5 | 14 | Boston Patriots | [6] [63] |
1966 | Verlon Biggs | 12.5 | 14 | New York Jets | [6] [65] |
1967 | Ike Lassiter | 17* | 14 | Oakland Raiders | [6] [66] |
1968 | Gerry Philbin | 14 | 14 | New York Jets | [6] [67] |
1969 | Steve DeLong | 15.5 | 14 | San Diego Chargers | [6] [68] |
DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant. In 2023, Ware was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Derek John Watt is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His older brother is J. J. Watt, and his younger brother is Steelers linebacker T. J. Watt.
Trent Jordan Watt is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers for four years. After redshirting his freshman year, Watt injured his knee in his sophomore year, keeping him out until the 2015 season. Watt broke out in 2016, recording 11.5 sacks and receiving various collegiate honors. After foregoing his last year of college eligibility, Watt was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Tom Kennedy was an American football quarterback. He played for the New York Giants in 1966.