List_of_National_Football_League_annual_sacks_leaders

List of NFL annual sacks leaders

List of NFL annual sacks leaders

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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.

Michael Strahan (left) and T. J. Watt (right) hold the official single-season record for sacks with 22.5.

NFL annual sacks leaders

Jared Allen in a Minnesota Vikings jersey and helmet
Jared Allen led the league in sacks in 2007 and 2011.
Al Baker headshot in a Detroit Lions jersey
Al Baker is the unofficial NFL record holder with 23 sacks during the 1978 NFL season.[2]
Deacon Jones headshot
The Deacon Jones Award, given annually to the player who leads the league in sacks, is named after Deacon Jones. Jones unofficially led the league in sacks 5 times.
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Note that the sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.[4]

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AFL annual sacks leaders

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Most seasons leading the league

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See also


References

  1. Smith, Michael David (12 July 2021). "Pre-1982 sack stats still unofficial, but now widely available". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. "NFL Sacks Single-Season Leaders (since 1960)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  3. "Deacon Jones Award will honor future NFL sack leaders". National Football League. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. "Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  5. "NFL Sacks Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1960)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. "Coy Bacon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. "Al Baker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. "T.J. Watt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  9. "Mel Branch Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. "Ron Nery Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. "Ike Lassiter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.

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