NFL History: Top 50 Sack Artists of All Time
Nothing can stop an NFL offense in its tracks like a sack—a powerful and violent play by a defense storming through blockers and drilling the opposing quarterback to the ground for a loss of some serious yardage. Nothing beats it.
Over the course of the NFL's existence, there have certainly been quite the pass rushers.
Out of the top pass rushers, many of these guys have been pure artists—whether if they're fierce and violent attackers or if they're simply pure speed guys who can out-run any blocker.
I hope you all enjoy this rankings as it's one of the more fun and interesting parts of the amazing game of football. Be sure to leave lots of feedback!
Here are the top 50 sack artist of all time.
This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.
50. Patrick Kerney
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The now retired Patrick Kerney spent ten years in the NFL while recording 82.5 sacks.
Kerney made two Pro Bowls and had an incredible season in 2007 when he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year. During '07, Kerney recorded 14.5 sacks which is good for 77th best in NFL history.
49. Leonard Marshall
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Leonard Marshall had a solid NFL career has he sits 43rd all-time with 83.5 sacks.
Marshall spent time with the Washington Redskins, New York Jets and most notably the New York Giants—alongside Lawrence Taylor, where they paired up to create one of the best pass-rushing duos in NFL history.
48. Mario Williams
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Mario Williams of the Houston Texans will be entering his sixth year in the league next season as one of the NFL's best pass rushers.
Williams, who's only 26 years old, has already recorded 48 sacks, which is good for 148th all-time—not too bad for such a young player who's entering his prime.
47. La'Roi Glover
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La'Roi Glover played 13 years in the NFL and recorded 83.5 career sacks which is good enough for 43rd all-time.
Glover was a stellar pass rusher for the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Rams.
2000 was his career year as he finished with 17 sacks for the Saints.
Glover is a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team.
46. Greg Ellis
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Greg Ellis retired in 2009 as a member of the Oakland Raiders, but he spent 10 years with the Dallas Cowboys.
Ellis was the 2007 NFC Comeback Player of the Year as he tallied up 12.5 sacks for the Cowboys.
45. Howie Long
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Former Oakland Raider Howie Long was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 as one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.
Long played 12 seasons in the league and currently sits 41st all-time with 84 sacks.
44. Terrell Suggs
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Terrell Suggs is one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL today and one of the best all-time.
At just 28 years old, Suggs has tallied up 68.5 career sacks and hasn't shown any sign of stopping.
Rushing from the outside linebacker position, Suggs is one fierce competitor and plays to the whistle on every play.
43. Leonard Little
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While playing 11 years in the NFL, Leonard Little became one of the best pass rushers of all-time. By the end of his career with the St. Louis Rams, Little finished with 87.5 career sacks.
42. Ken Harvey
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Former Phoenix Cardinal and Washington Redskin Ken Harvey is currently slotted in at 37th all-time with 89 sacks.
Harvey was a solid pass rusher during his 10-year career and was at his best in 1994 when he racked up 13.5 sacks.
41. Bryant Young
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Bryant Young retired as a four-time Pro Bowler for the San Francisco 49ers in 2007.
During his career, Young was very productive and finished with 89.5 sacks.
40. Robert Mathis
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The 30-year-old Robert Mathis, who is a member of the Indianapolis Colts, has played in three Pro Bowls during his eight-year career.
As of right now, Mathis sits 60th all-time with 74 career sacks.
39. Henry Thomas
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Henry Thomas, or better known as Hardware Hank, spent 13 years in the NFL as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots.
On the NFL all-time sacks list, Thomas is slotted in at 34th with 93.5.
38. Trevor Pryce
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Defensive lineman Trevor Pryce is a current member of the New York Jets and played for the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos before joining the Jets.
Pryce, who's still active and productive at the age of 35, currently sits as 35th all-time with 91 sacks.
37. Steve McMichael
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With a career 95 sacks, Steve McMichael is one of the league's best pass rushers.
McMichael spent time with the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers while making two Pro Bowls during his 14 seasons.
36. Robert Porcher
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The now-retired Robert Porcher spent 11 years in the NFL as a member of the Detroit Lions as he tallied up 95.5 career sacks.
1997 was Porcher's best season as he finished with a stellar 12.5 sacks.
35. Willie McGinest
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The now retired Willie McGinest is the all-time playoff sacks leader with a whopping total of 16.
McGinest played most of his 14-year career with the New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls. McGinest was a huge part of New England's lights-out defense as he recorded a career 86 sacks.
34. Joey Porter
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Joey Porter is one of the top pass rushers in recent memory, as he's a member of the 2000s All Decade Team.
Porter currently stands at 29th all-time with 97 career sacks and is still a very effective force coming from the outside as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
33. Jacob Green
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The two-time Pro Bowler Jacob Green is agruably the greatest pass rusher to ever put on a Seattle Seahawks uniform.
Green's best season came in 1983 when he tallied up 16 sacks.
32. Simon Fletcher
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Simon Fletcher spent 11 years in the NFL and all of them were with the Denver Broncos.
Fletcher was a dominant pass rusher during his time in the league as he's the current record holder of consecutive games with a sack (10).
31. Jared Allen
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When all is said and done, Jared Allen may go down as one of the most vicious and dominant pass rushers as he's only played seven years in the league.
At just 29 years of age, Allen has recorded 83 career sacks which is good enough for 45th all-time—expect Allen to continue crawl up the list in the upcoming seasons.
30. Dexter Manley
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The two-time All-Pro Dexter Manley may be the best defensive end ever to play for the Washington Redskins.
During his 13 years in the NFL, Manley recorded a stellar 97.5 sacks, which makes him 26th all-time.
29. Andre Tippet
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Andre Tippet currently ranks 25th all-time on the NFL sacks list with an incredible 100.
Tippet spent all of his nine years in the league with the New England Patriots. Although playing nine years, his production was amazing—averaging 10 sacks a year.
28. Charles Haley
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Charles Haley was a five-time Pro Bowl selection for the San Francisco 49ers. During his 13 seasons, Haley tallied up 100.5 sacks while winning five Super Bowls.
27. William Fuller
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William Fuller was an amazing pass rusher during his 12 years in the league.
During those 12 seasons, Fuller suited up for the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
26. Warren Sapp
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Warren Sapp is by far one of the most well-known pass rushers with one hell of a personality.
Sapp 12 years in the NFL, spending nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his 12 seasons, Sapp managed to record 96.5 career sacks.
25. Jim Jeffcoat
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With 102.5 career sacks, Jim Jeffcoat ranks in at 21st all-time.
Jeffcoat spent 14 seasons in the NFL and was a two-time Super Bowl champion.
24. Dwight Freeney
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Dwight Freeney is one of the most dominant and feared pass rushers in the NFL today.
At just 30 years old, Freeney has recorded 94 career sacks.
23. Julius Peppers
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Julius Peppers is an elite pass rushing defensive ends in the league today and has tallied up a stellar 89 career sacks.
At just 30 years old, Peppers has spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears and has been named to six Pro Bowls.
22. Kevin Carter
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During Kevin Carter's 13-year career he recorded 104.5 career sacks which is good enough for 19th all-time.
Carter spent time with the St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
21. Trace Armstrong
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With 106 career sacks, Trace Armstrong ranks in at 18th on the all-time sacks list.
Armstrong's may not have had too many incredible seasons, but he was always a consistent pass rusher.
20. Neil Smith
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Neil Smith played 12 years in the NFL while spending most of his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith's most impressive season came in 1993, when he tallied up 15 sacks. Smith was also named to six Pro Bowls and is a member of the 1990s All Decade Team.
19. Pat Swilling
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Pat Swilling ranks in at 17th all-time with 107.5 career sacks.
Swilling spent 12 years in the NFL and was named to five Pro Bowls and was the 1991 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
18. Greg Townsend
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Greg Townsend played 12 seasons in the NFL while notably spending 11 of them with the Oakland Raiders.
Townsend currently sits at 16th all-time with 109.5 career sacks.
17. Sean Jones
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Sean Jones was a vicious defensive end for the Los Angeles Raiders in the late 1980s.
Jones currently sits at 15th all-time with 113 career sacks while only playing in one Pro Bowl. Jones may be the most underrated pass rusher in NFL history.
16. Clyde Simmons
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Clyde Simmons played 14 seasons in the NFL with five different teams—most of them were with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Simmons played in two Pro Bowls and has 121.5 career sacks.
15. John Abraham
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John Abraham has just played 11 seasons in the NFL and currently sits with 102.5 career sacks.
As a member of the New York Jets, Abraham was a monstrous defensive end that had a niche at getting to the quarterback. Now, while playing for the Atlanta Falcons, he's the team's top defender and leader.
14. Rickey Jackson
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The pass rushing linebacker Rickey Jackson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jackson spent 12 years with the New Orleans Saints and one with the San Francisco 49ers. During his impressive career, Jackson recorded 128 career sacks—which is 11th most all-time.
13. Simeon Rice
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The three time Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice is likely a future Hall of Famer, as he accumulated 122 career sacks.
Rice was a dominant pass rusher for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
12. Leslie O'Neal
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Leslie O'Neal played 13 years in the NFL and accumulated 132.5 career sacks.
O'Neal's best season came in 1990 as he brought down the quarterback 13.5 times.
11. DeMarcus Ware
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DeMarcus Ware will go down as one of the most dominant and efficent pass rushers in NFL history.
At just the young age of 28, Ware has accumulated 80 sacks over his six-year career and was named to the 2000s All Decade Team.
10. Derrick Thomas
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The late Derrick Thomas passed away in 2000 at just the young age of 33.
Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. During just 10 years in the league, Thomas tallied up an incredible 126.5 sacks.
9. Chris Doleman
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The future Hall of Famer Chris Doleman currently ranks in at fourth-best all-time with 150.5 career sacks.
Doleman spent 14 years in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. Doleman's best season came in 1989 when he recorded a whopping 21 sacks.
8. Richard Dent
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Richard Dent played 14 seasons in the NFL and was recently elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dent ranks in at sixth best all-time with 137.5 career sacks. One of the most notable achievements in Dent's career was when he won the Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XX.
7. John Randle
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John Randle was a member of the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
During his brilliant 13-year career, Randle tallied up a stellar 137.5 career sacks. Randle was always a consistent pass rusher for the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.
6. Jason Taylor
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Jason Taylor is agruably the greatest pass rusher of the 2000s as he's a member of the 2000s All Decade Team.
Taylor is 13-year veteran who's spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and the New York Jets.
At 36 years old, Taylor has 132.5 career sacks.
5. Kevin Greene
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Kevin Greene is a member of the 1990s All Decade Team as he has a career 160 sacks, which is good enough for third all-time.
Greene was a dominant pass rusher during the '90s as he was named to Pro Bowl five times.
Green, without a doubt, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the upcoming years.
4. Michael Strahan
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While spending 14 years in the NFL, Michael Strahan tallied up a stellar 141.5 career sacks which ranks in at fifth best all-time.
Strahan was named to the 2000s All-Decade Team and is the record holder for most sacks in a season (22.5).
3. Lawrence Taylor
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Lawrence Taylor, or better known as the original "L.T." is a current member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Taylor is probably the biggest freak athlete to ever play the game of football—he's as fast as a running back and as strong as a lineman.
While playing 14 seasons in the NFL, Taylor caused much chaos in the backfield, as he brought down the quarterback 132.5 times.
2. Bruce Smith
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Bruce Smith is the NFL all-time career sacks leader with a whopping 200. Smith spent an incredible 18 years in the league and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility.
Smith's most impressive season came in 1990 when he recorded 19 sacks, which is ninth best all-time.
One of the most interesting achievements under Smith's belt is that he's a member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams.
1. Reggie White
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The Minister of Defense, Reggie White, passed away in 2004 but will live on as the NFL's greatest sack artist.
White may not be the NFL's all-time leader in sacks, but stands in at a close second with 198—just two short of Bruce Smith.
White played 14 seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers.
During his time with the Packers, White won his lone Super Bowl and set an NFL Super Bowl record with three sacks.
White's career is filled with accolades such as 13 Pro Bowls, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams and his enshrinement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame—but he'll go down as the classiest man off of the field, but one of the most violent and ferocious pass rushers to ever play the game.
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