Special Report

NFL's All-Time Sack Leaders

Dustin Bradford / Getty Images

Through the first four weeks of the 2021 NFL season, teams have combined for nearly 300 sacks, a higher total than in 2020 but lower than many other recent seasons. Though most NFL teams throw it on the majority of their offensive plays, racking up sacks on the other side of the ball can be difficult.

When a defensive player develops a reputation for getting to the quarterback, offenses will do whatever they can to slow that player down — double teams, bootlegs, quick passes, or just running to the other side. Yet throughout NFL history, a select few players have been able to bring down the QB over 100 times throughout their career.

To determine the NFL’s all-time sack leaders, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from Pro Football Reference. Sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982. All sack statistics from before that season are therefore considered unofficial and were compiled by independent researchers for the 1960-1981 seasons.

The list of all-time sack leaders is dominated by retired players, many of whom have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Only one player among the top 50 career sack leaders is playing during the 2021 season, though a handful of pass rushers are just outside the top 50 and seem likely to make the list by the end of the season.

With NFL teams relying on their passing game to carry their offense more and more, they have also stocked up on pass rushers on the other side of the ball. In the 2021 season, 13 teams are paying their defensive line more than any other position group — no other position group ranks as the highest paid on more than six teams. These are the NFL teams paying their players the most.

Click here to see the NFL’s all-time sack leaders

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

50. Jim Jeffcoat
> Career sacks: 102.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills

[in-text-ad]

Howdythere / Wikimedia Commons

48. Fred Dryer (tied)
> Career sacks: 103
> Years active: 1969-1981
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants

Nate Fine / NFL / Getty Images

48. Tony McGee (tied)
> Career sacks: 103
> Years active: 1971-1984
> Team(s): New England Patriots, Washington Football Team

Mike Powell / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

47. Dexter Manley
> Career sacks: 103.5
> Years active: 1981-1991
> Team(s): Washington Football Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[in-text-ad-2]

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

45. Neil Smith (tied)
> Career sacks: 104.5
> Years active: 1988-2000
> Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

45. Kevin Carter (tied)
> Career sacks: 104.5
> Years active: 1995-2008
> Team(s): St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans

[in-text-ad]

George Gojkovich / Getty Images

44. Elvin Bethea
> Career sacks: 105
> Years active: 1968-1983
> Team(s): Houston Oilers

43. Elvis Dumervil
> Career sacks: 105.5
> Years active: 2006-2017
> Team(s): Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens

Nate Fine / Getty Images

40. Jack Gregory (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1967-1979
> Team(s): New York Giants, Cleveland Browns

[in-text-ad-2]

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

40. Trace Armstrong (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1989-2003
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

40. Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1974-1989
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys

[in-text-ad]

Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

38. Pat Swilling (tied)
> Career sacks: 107.5
> Years active: 1986-1998
> Team(s): New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders

Rick Stewart / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

38. Mark Gastineau (tied)
> Career sacks: 107.5
> Years active: 1979-1988
> Team(s): New York Jets

George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

37. Greg Townsend
> Career sacks: 109.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Los Angeles Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles

[in-text-ad-2]

Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

36. Von Miller
> Career sacks: 110.5
> Years active: 2011-2021
> Team(s): Denver Broncos

Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios / Getty Images

35. Randy White
> Career sacks: 111
> Years active: 1975-1988
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys

[in-text-ad]

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

34. Lyle Alzado
> Career sacks: 112
> Years active: 1971-1985
> Team(s): Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Raiders

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

33. Sean Jones
> Career sacks: 113
> Years active: 1984-1996
> Team(s): Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders

Nate Fine / Getty Images

32. Harvey Martin
> Career sacks: 114
> Years active: 1973-1983
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys

[in-text-ad-2]

George Gojkovich / Getty Images

31. Jacob Green
> Career sacks: 115.5
> Years active: 1980-1992
> Team(s): Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

30. Clyde Simmons
> Career sacks: 121.5
> Years active: 1986-2000
> Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals

[in-text-ad]

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

29. Simeon Rice
> Career sacks: 122
> Years active: 1996-2007
> Team(s): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals

James Flores / Getty Images

28. Cedrick Hardman
> Career sacks: 122.5
> Years active: 1970-1981
> Team(s): San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

27. Robert Mathis
> Career sacks: 123
> Years active: 2003-2016
> Team(s): Indianapolis Colts

[in-text-ad-2]

NFL Photos / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

26. Dwight Freeney
> Career sacks: 125.5
> Years active: 2002-2017
> Team(s): Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

25. Derrick Thomas
> Career sacks: 126.5
> Years active: 1989-1999
> Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs

[in-text-ad]

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

24. Claude Humphrey
> Career sacks: 130
> Years active: 1968-1981
> Team(s): Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

22. Jim Marshall (tied)
> Career sacks: 130.5
> Years active: 1960-1979
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

22. Coy Bacon (tied)
> Career sacks: 130.5
> Years active: 1968-1981
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, Washington Football Team

[in-text-ad-2]

Getty Images

21. Al Baker
> Career sacks: 131
> Years active: 1978-1990
> Team(s): Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams

Mike Powell / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

20. Leslie O’Neal
> Career sacks: 132.5
> Years active: 1986-1999
> Team(s): San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs

[in-text-ad]

Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

18. Carl Eller (tied)
> Career sacks: 133.5
> Years active: 1964-1979
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

18. John Abraham (tied)
> Career sacks: 133.5
> Years active: 2000-2014
> Team(s): Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets

Stephen Dunn / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

16. Rickey Jackson (tied)
> Career sacks: 136
> Years active: 1981-1995
> Team(s): New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers

[in-text-ad-2]

16. Jared Allen (tied)
> Career sacks: 136
> Years active: 2004-2015
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs

Brian Bahr / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

14. John Randle (tied)
> Career sacks: 137.5
> Years active: 1990-2003
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks

[in-text-ad]

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

14. Richard Dent (tied)
> Career sacks: 137.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts

Scott Halleran / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

13. DeMarcus Ware
> Career sacks: 138.5
> Years active: 2005-2016
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

12. Terrell Suggs
> Career sacks: 139
> Years active: 2003-2019
> Team(s): Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals

[in-text-ad-2]

Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

11. Jason Taylor
> Career sacks: 139.5
> Years active: 1997-2011
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins, New York Jets

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

10. Michael Strahan
> Career sacks: 141.5
> Years active: 1993-2007
> Team(s): New York Giants

[in-text-ad]

Mike Powell / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

9. Lawrence Taylor
> Career sacks: 142
> Years active: 1981-1993
> Team(s): New York Giants

Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

8. Alan Page
> Career sacks: 148.5
> Years active: 1967-1981
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

7. Chris Doleman
> Career sacks: 150.5
> Years active: 1985-1999
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers

[in-text-ad-2]

Cindy Ord / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

6. Jack Youngblood
> Career sacks: 151.5
> Years active: 1971-1984
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams

Mike McGinnis / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

5. Julius Peppers
> Career sacks: 159.5
> Years active: 2002-2018
> Team(s): Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears

[in-text-ad]

Mike Powell / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

4. Kevin Greene
> Career sacks: 160
> Years active: 1985-1999
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers

Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

3. Deacon Jones
> Career sacks: 173.5
> Years active: 1961-1974
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers

George Gojkovich / Contributor / Getty Images North America

2. Reggie White
> Career sacks: 198
> Years active: 1985-2000
> Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers

[in-text-ad-2]

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

1. Bruce Smith
> Career sacks: 200
> Years active: 1985-2003
> Team(s): Buffalo Bills, Washington Football Team

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.