Garrett’s sensational stat line for 2025 included 23 sacks over 17 games, setting the all-time single-season sack record and breaking the previous mark of 22.5 sacks held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt by a half-sack. The performance underscored how dominant he was across the year.
His importance to Cleveland was evident in several standout games, including three performances with at least three sacks, and a five-sack outburst against the AFC champion New England Patriots in October. Those games, along with the overall pressure he generated, helped him run away with the award.
The ceremony also highlighted the other finalists for the honor: Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans), Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos), Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions) and Micah Parsons (Green Bay Packers). Garrett’s unanimous win came despite formidable competition from a deep edge-rushing slate.
This honor follows a landmark offseason for Garrett, who signed a then-record four-year, $160 million extension with the Browns last March—the largest contract given to a non-quarterback at the time. The deal came weeks after Garrett requested a trade, and it helped set the stage for a wave of rich contracts around the league.
Garrett’s accolade marks his second Defensive Player of the Year award, further cementing his place among the game’s elite pass rushers. His 2025 season will be remembered not only for the records he set but also for the way it shaped perceptions of the Browns’ defensive identity and payroll strategy going forward. This is a developing story and will be updated with any further details.
