Myles Garrett Makes History as Youngest Player to Hit 100 Career Sacks

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett etched his name in NFL history during Week 16's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, achieving an incredible milestone of 100 career sacks. This remarkable feat occurred late in the first half when Garrett took down Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for an eight-yard loss, bringing his total to 100.5 sacks and placing him at No. 60 on the all-time NFL sack list. As of now, he has accumulated 12 sacks for the current season.

Garrett’s historic sack against Burrow was particularly fitting, considering this marked the ninth time he’s sacked the Bengals QB in their eight meetings – a record for Garrett against any single quarterback throughout his career. Not only did Garrett make history, but he also became the first player to reach the 100-sack milestone before turning 29, as he is set to celebrate his birthday next week.

In an impressive display of talent, Garrett tied legends Bruce Smith and Lawrence Taylor by becoming the fourth-fastest player to reach this landmark, doing so in just 115 games played. While Smith holds the record for most career sacks with 200, Taylor boasts 142 career sacks, ranking ninth all-time. Notably, only three players—Reggie White (96 games), T.J. Watt (109 games), and DeMarcus Ware (113 games)—have achieved this feat in fewer games than Garrett.

However, the achievement comes at a crucial juncture for both Garrett and the Browns organization, as he recently expressed concerns regarding the team's direction and competitiveness. In a candid statement to reporters, Garrett emphasized the urgent need for the Browns to showcase a solid plan for winning, or else he may reconsider his future with the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2017.

Currently under contract for two more seasons, Garrett's loyalty to the Browns is evident, yet he highlighted the importance of making decisions that are in the best interest of his career. The Browns have struggled overall during Garrett's tenure, with a disappointing 53-76 record in the last seven years, including a 3-12 record this season.

As of now, Garrett's statistics for this season stand commendably at 12 sacks, 41 total tackles, and 16 tackles for loss. Looking ahead, fans and pundits alike eagerly await to see how Garrett’s next steps unfold, both as a player and a potential franchise cornerstone. Will he remain loyal, or will he seek greener pastures as he approaches the peak of his career? Only time will tell.