What happened: Myles Garrett is being framed as a long shot to break Aaron Donald's career sack record. The hurdle cited is stark: no pass rusher in NFL history has officially recorded 20-plus sacks in consecutive seasons.
Why it matters: Sustained elite production, not a single spike, is what separates an all-time record chase from a great peak. To close the gap on Donald, Garrett would need to defy a pattern that has held across the entire history of the position, making longevity and durability the real obstacles heading into the 2026 season.
By the numbers: No pass rusher in NFL history has officially amassed 20+ sacks in back-to-back seasons, the central barrier to any consecutive-season record pace.
What to watch: Watch Garrett's 2026 sack pace and snap workload to gauge whether he can string together the kind of repeat dominant season the record chase requires.