In a season of individual defensive brilliance rarely witnessed, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is authoring a campaign for the ages. Yet, his historic pursuit of the NFL's single-season sack record is unfolding against the bleak backdrop of his team's latest lost year, raising urgent questions about a wasted prime.
A Relentless Pursuit of History
With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, Garrett has amassed 21.5 sacks through 14 games. This staggering pace puts him on track to finish with 26, which would shatter the long-standing record of 22.5 shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Garrett's confidence is absolute. "I don't even think about it as a want," he stated recently. "I just think about something that I'm going to knock down. It's already been written in my mind."
The sheer dominance of his performance defies conventional wisdom. This is not a product of favourable game scripts or lopsided scores. The Browns possess a mere three wins and their offence ranks dead last in the league. Opponents rarely need to abandon the run, limiting pass-rush opportunities. Despite this, Garrett's efficiency is unprecedented. He is averaging a sack for every 20.3 team pass attempts he faces, a mark that surpasses even the legendary Reggie White's most efficient season.
Dominance in the Face of Overwhelming Attention
Garrett's achievements become even more remarkable when considering the constant, focused attention he receives from every offensive coordinator he faces. He is consistently double-teamed, chipped by running backs and tight ends, and schemes are designed specifically to run away from him or neutralise his impact with quick passes. According to league metrics, only Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers faces a higher rate of extra attention.
None of it has worked. Garrett is winning with a terrifying combination of physical tools and technical prowess. His average get-off time at the snap is a blistering 0.78 seconds, far quicker than the league average of 0.97. He combines this explosive first step with power, intelligence, and elite bend, overwhelming blockers rather than out-finessing them. In an era brimming with elite pass-rushing talent like Parsons, Maxx Crosby, and Aidan Hutchinson, Garrett has created a chasm between himself and the field.
The Stark Reality of Wasted Greatness
This historic season, however, is set to become another footnote in the chronicle of Cleveland's organisational struggles. As Garrett approaches his 30th birthday—the age where pass rushers often begin their decline—his career arc is drawing uncomfortable parallels with baseball's Mike Trout: a sure-fire Hall of Famer whose prime is being consumed by perennial team irrelevance.
The dissonance reached a peak last offseason when Garrett, after eight seasons, requested a trade from the Browns. "The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton; it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl," he wrote. Yet, a month later, he signed a record contract extension to stay, prioritising financial security over immediate championship contention.
This decision has left both player and franchise in a precarious stalemate. Garrett awaits a competent, long-term solution at quarterback and a functional offence, while the Browns waste one of the most valuable assets in the sport. Had they traded him, a haul of multiple first-round draft picks was likely, accelerating a rebuild. Now, they risk his peak years expiring before the team is ready to compete.
For now, Myles Garrett will spend the final weeks of the season playing for his legacy, chasing a number that has stood for decades. But the enduring image of 2025 may not be a record-breaking sack, but the sight of a generational talent being let down by the franchise that employs him.
