NFL Sacks Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1960)

Note: sacks prior to 1982 are not official. For more information, please read our blog post
Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard.
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
+ Indicates Hall of Famer, season age in parentheses

Leaders

Leaders Table
Year Player Sk Tm
2021T.J. Watt (26)22.5PIT
2020T.J. Watt (25)15.0PIT
2019Shaquil Barrett (26)19.5TAM
2018Aaron Donald (27)20.5LAR
2017Chandler Jones (27)17.0ARI
2016Vic Beasley (24)15.5ATL
2015J.J. Watt (26)17.5HOU
2014Justin Houston (25)22.0KAN
2013Robert Mathis (32)19.5IND
2012J.J. Watt (23)20.5HOU
2011Jared Allen (29)22.0MIN
2010DeMarcus Ware (28)15.5DAL
2009Elvis Dumervil (25)17.0DEN
2008DeMarcus Ware (26)20.0DAL
2007Jared Allen (25)15.5KAN
2006Shawne Merriman (22)17.0SDG
2005Derrick Burgess (27)16.0OAK
2004Dwight Freeney (24)16.0IND
2003Michael Strahan+ (31)18.5NYG
2002Jason Taylor+ (28)18.5MIA
2001Michael Strahan+ (29)22.5NYG
2000La'Roi Glover (26)17.0NOR
1999Kevin Carter (25)17.0STL
1998Michael Sinclair (30)16.5SEA
1997John Randle+ (29)15.5MIN
1996Kevin Greene+ (34)14.5CAR
1995Bryce Paup (27)17.5BUF
1994Kevin Greene+ (32)14.0PIT
1993Neil Smith (27)15.0KAN
1992Clyde Simmons (28)19.0PHI
1991Pat Swilling (26)17.0NOR
1990Derrick Thomas+ (23)20.0KAN
1989Chris Doleman+ (27)21.0MIN
1988Reggie White+ (26)18.0PHI
1987Reggie White+ (25)21.0PHI
1986Lawrence Taylor+ (27)20.5NYG
1985Richard Dent+ (24)17.0CHI
1984Mark Gastineau (27)22.0NYJ
1983Mark Gastineau (26)19.0NYJ
1982Doug Martin (25)11.5MIN
1981Joe Klecko (27)20.5NYJ
1980Al Baker (23)17.5DET
1980Gary Johnson (28)17.5SDG
1979Jack Youngblood+ (29)18.0RAM
1978Al Baker (21)23.0DET
1977Harvey Martin (26)20.0DAL
1976Coy Bacon (34)21.5CIN
1975John Dutton (24)17.0BAL
1974Jack Youngblood+ (24)15.0RAM
1974Fred Dryer (28)15.0RAM
1973Bill Stanfill (26)18.5MIA
1972Jack Gregory (27)18.5NYG
1971Cedrick Hardman (22)18.0SFO
1970Tony Cline (22)17.5OAK
1969Steve DeLong (26)15.5SDG
1969Deacon Jones+ (30)15.0RAM
1969Carl Eller+ (27)15.0MIN
1968Deacon Jones+ (29)22.0RAM
1968Gerry Philbin (27)14.0NYJ
1967Deacon Jones+ (28)21.5RAM
1967Ike Lassiter (26)17.0OAK
1966George Andrie (26)18.5DAL
1966Verlon Biggs (23)12.5NYJ
1965Deacon Jones+ (26)19.0RAM
1965Larry Eisenhauer (25)9.5BOS
1964Deacon Jones+ (25)22.0RAM
1964Tom Sestak (28)15.5BUF
1963Jim Katcavage (28)20.5NYG
1963Larry Eisenhauer (23)8.0BOS
1962Jim Katcavage (27)16.0NYG
1962Ed Husmann (31)10.0HOU
1961Gene Lipscomb (30)17.5PIT
1961Ed Husmann (30)8.0HOU
1961Ron Nery (26)8.0SDG
1960Gino Marchetti+ (33)11.0BAL
1960Riley Morris (26)10.0OAK
1960Mel Branch (23)10.0DTX