The NFL’s all-time sack leaders are some of the greatest pass rushers in NFL history. These players were able to consistently get to the quarterback and disrupt the opposing offense. Sacks are one of the most important statistics in football, and these players are all legends of the game.
Who are the top 15 NFL all-time sack leaders?

Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200 sacks. He played for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins during his 19-year career. Smith was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. In 2009, he earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Smith was a dominant pass rusher from the start of his career. He had 13 sacks in his rookie season and went on to record at least 10 sacks in each of his first 14 seasons. Smith’s best season was in 1990 when he had 19 sacks.
Smith was a relentless pass rusher who had a variety of moves that he used to get to the quarterback. He was also very strong and powerful, which made it difficult for blockers to stop him.
Reggie White
Reggie White is the NFL’s second all-time sack leader with 198 sacks. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers during his 15-year career. White was a 13-time Pro Bowler and a 12-time All-Pro. He gained entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the year 2006.
White was a force on the defensive line. He was a skilled pass rusher, but he was also a great run-stopper. White was one of the most complete defensive players in NFL history.
White’s best season was in 1998 when he had 16 sacks. He also had 15.5 sacks in 1991 and 15 sacks in 1992.
White was a dominant player throughout his career. He was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL.
Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene is the NFL’s third all-time sack leader with 160 sacks. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers during his 15-year career. Greene was a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. In 2016, he secured his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Greene was a relentless pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to get to the quarterback. Greene also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Greene’s best season was in 1994 when he had 14 sacks. He also had 16.5 sacks in 1996 and 15 sacks in 1998.
Greene was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career. He posed a formidable threat to rival quarterbacks.
Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers is the NFL’s fourth all-time sack leader with 159.5 sacks. He played for the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Green Bay Packers during his 17-year career. Peppers was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.
Peppers was a versatile defensive player. He was a skilled pass rusher, but he was also a good run-stopper. Peppers was also one of the most athletic defensive players in NFL history.
Peppers’ best season was in 2004 when he had 22.5 sacks. He also had 16 sacks in 2009 and 15.5 sacks in 2010.
Peppers was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL during his career. He struck fear into both opposing quarterbacks and running backs.
Chris Doleman
Chris Doleman is the NFL’s fifth all-time sack leader with 150.5 sacks. He played for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers during his 15-year career. Doleman was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. In 2012, he earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Doleman was a relentless pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to get to the quarterback. Doleman also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Doleman’s best season was in 1989 when he had 21 sacks. He also had 17.5 sacks in 1990 and 16 sacks in 1992.
Doleman was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career.
These are just a few of the NFL’s all-time sack leaders. All of these players were dominant pass rushers who had a major impact on the game
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan is the NFL’s sixth all-time sack leader with 141.5 sacks. He played for the New York Giants during his 15-year career. Strahan was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro.
Strahan was a dominant pass rusher throughout his career. He was known for his strength, speed, and athleticism. Strahan also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Strahan’s best season was in 2001 when he had 22.5 sacks. He also had 18.5 sacks in 2005 and 17 sacks in 2003.
Strahan was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks.
John Abraham
John Abraham is the NFL’s seventh all-time sack leader with 133.5 sacks. He played for the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals during his 15-year career. Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Abraham was a relentless pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to get to the quarterback. Abraham also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Abraham’s best season was in 2008 when he had 16.5 sacks. He also had 17 sacks in 2004 and 15 sacks in 2006.
Abraham was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career.
Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney is the NFL’s eighth all-time sack leader with 125.5 sacks. He played for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers during his 16-year career. Freeney was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.
Freeney was a skilled pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to bend the corner and get to the quarterback. Freeney also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Freeney’s best season was in 2004 when he had 16 sacks. He also had 13.5 sacks in 2009 and 13 sacks in 2006.
Freeney was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career.
DeMarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware is the NFL’s ninth all-time sack leader with 138.5 sacks. He played for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos during his 12-year career. Ware was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro.
Ware was a dominant pass rusher throughout his career. He was known for his speed, strength, and athleticism. Ware also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Ware’s best season was in 2008 when he had 20 sacks. He also had 15.5 sacks in 2009 and 16 sacks in 2011.
Ware was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career.
Terrell Suggs
Terrell Suggs is the NFL’s tenth-all-time sack leader with 139.5 sacks. He played for the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals during his 16-year career. Suggs was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Suggs was a versatile defensive player. He was a skilled pass rusher, but he was also a good run-stopper. Suggs was also one of the most athletic defensive players in NFL history.
Suggs’ best season was in 2011 when he had 14 sacks. He also had 12 sacks in 2009 and 11 sacks in 2007.
Suggs was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks and running backs alike.
These are just a few of the NFL’s all-time sack leaders. All of these players were dominant pass rushers who had a major impact on the game.
Jared Allen
Jared Allen is the NFL’s eleventh all-time sack leader with 136 sacks. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers during his 12-year career.
Allen was a dominant pass rusher throughout his career. He was known for his strength, speed, and athleticism. Allen also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Allen’s best season was in 2011 when he had 22 sacks. He also had 14.5 sacks in 2007 and 14 sacks in 2009.
Allen was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks.
Kevin Carter
Kevin Carter is the NFL’s twelfth all-time sack leader with 122.5 sacks. He played for the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers during his 16-year career. Carter was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.
Carter was a versatile defensive player. He was a skilled pass rusher, but he was also a good run-stopper. Carter was also one of the most athletic defensive players in NFL history.
Carter’s best season was in 1999 when he had 17 sacks. He also had 16.5 sacks in 2000 and 15 sacks in 1995.
Carter was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks and running backs alike.
Simeon Rice
Simeon Rice is the NFL’s thirteenth all-time sack leader with 122 sacks. He played for the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his 12-year career. Rice was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Rice was a relentless pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to get to the quarterback. Rice also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Rice’s best season was in 2002 when he had 15.5 sacks. He also had 14 sacks in 2001 and 13.5 sacks in 2000.
Rice was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks.
LaMarr Woodley
LaMarr Woodley is the NFL’s fourteenth all-time sack leader with 102 sacks. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders during his nine-year career. Woodley was a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Woodley was a skilled pass rusher. He was known for his speed and his ability to get to the quarterback. Woodley also had a variety of moves that he used to beat blockers.
Woodley’s best season was in 2009 when he had 16 sacks. He also had 10 sacks in 2010 and 9.5 sacks in 2012.
Woodley was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL during his career. He was a terror for opposing quarterbacks.
Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora is the NFL’s fifteenth-all-time sack leader with 107.5 sacks. He played for the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons during his 12-year career. Umenyiora was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
Umenyiora was a versatile defensive player. He was a skilled pass rusher, but he was also a good run-stopper. Umenyiora was also one of the most athletic defensive players in NFL history.
Umenyiora’s best season was in 2007 when he had 14.5 sacks. He also had 11.5 sacks in 2005 and 10 sacks in 2006.
Umenyiora was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL during his career.
These are just a few of the NFL’s all-time sack leaders. All of these players were dominant pass rushers who had a major impact on the game.
What is a sack?
A sack occurs when a defensive player brings down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. Sacks are counted as negative rushing yards for the offense.
How is a sack counted?
A sack is counted if the defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before the quarterback can release the ball. If the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage after releasing the ball, it is counted as a loss on passing yardage.
Conclusion
The NFL’s all-time sack leaders are some of the greatest pass rushers in NFL history. These players were able to consistently get to the quarterback and disrupt the opposing offense. Sacks are one of the most important statistics in football, and these players are all legends of the game.
All of these players have left a significant mark on the game of football. They have inspired future generations of pass rushers and have helped their teams win championships. The NFL’s all-time sack leaders are some of the greatest players to ever play the game.
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FAQs
Who is the NFL’s all-time sack leader?
Bruce Smith, with 200 sacks.
Who is the active NFL sack leader?
Von Miller, with 120.5 sacks.
What is the single-season sack record?
23.5 sacks, by Michael Strahan in 2001.
What is the rookie sack record?
14.5 sacks, by Jevon Kearse in 1999.
Who is the only player to have at least 10 sacks in each of his first 10 seasons?
Von Miller.