List of National Football League annual sacks leaders
This is a list of National Football League players who have led the regular season in sacks each year. Sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Michael Strahan of the New York Giants holds the record with 22.5, which he had during the 2001 season. In 2013, the NFL created the Deacon Jones Award to recognize the season leader in sacks. There have only been two players who have led the league in sacks with 2 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 4. Seven players have led the NFL in sacks twice, and nobody has led the league three times.
Michael Strahan holds the single season sack record at 22.5, which he achieved during the 2001 season
Sack leaders
| League record |
Jared Allen led the league in sacks in 2007 and 2011
| Year | Player | Sacks | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Doug Martin | 11.5 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1983 | Mark Gastineau | 19.0 | New York Jets |
| 1984 | Mark Gastineau (2) | 22.0 | New York Jets (2) |
| 1985 | Richard Dent | 17.0 | Chicago Bears |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor | 20.5 | New York Giants |
| 1987 | Reggie White | 21.0 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1988 | Reggie White (2) | 18.0 | Philadelphia Eagles (2) |
| 1989 | Chris Doleman | 21.0 | Minnesota Vikings (2) |
| 1990 | Derrick Thomas | 20.0 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1991 | Pat Swilling | 17.0 | New Orleans Saints |
| 1992 | Clyde Simmons | 19.0 | Philadelphia Eagles (3) |
| 1993 | Neil Smith | 15.0 | Kansas City Chiefs (2) |
| 1994 | Kevin Greene | 14.0 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1995 | Bryce Paup | 17.5 | Buffalo Bills |
| 1996 | Kevin Greene (2) | 14.5 | Carolina Panthers |
| 1997 | John Randle | 15.5 | Minnesota Vikings (3) |
| 1998 | Michael Sinclair | 16.5 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1999 | Kevin Carter | 17.0 | St. Louis Rams |
| 2000 | La'Roi Glover | 17.0 | New Orleans Saints (2) |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan | 22.5 | New York Giants (2) |
| 2002 | Jason Taylor | 18.5 | Miami Dolphins |
| 2003 | Michael Strahan (2) | 18.5 | New York Giants (3) |
| 2004 | Dwight Freeney | 16.0 | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2005 | Derrick Burgess | 16.0 | Oakland Raiders |
| 2006 | Shawne Merriman | 17.0 | San Diego Chargers |
| 2007 | Jared Allen | 15.5 | Kansas City Chiefs (3) |
| 2008 | DeMarcus Ware | 20.0 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2009 | Elvis Dumervil | 17.0 | Denver Broncos |
| 2010 | DeMarcus Ware (2) | 15.5 | Dallas Cowboys (2) |
| 2011 | Jared Allen (2) | 22.0 | Minnesota Vikings (4) |
| 2012 | J. J. Watt | 20.5 | Houston Texans |
| 2013 | Robert Mathis | 19.5 | Indianapolis Colts (2) |
| 2014 | Justin Houston | 22.0 | Kansas City Chiefs (4) |
| 2015 | J. J. Watt (2) | 17.5 | Houston Texans (2) |
| 2016 | Vic Beasley | 15.5 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 2017 | Chandler Jones | 17.0 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | 20.5 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2019 | Shaquil Barrett | 19.5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2020 | T. J. Watt | 15.0 | Pittsburgh Steelers (2) |
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