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.
50. Jim Jeffcoat
> Career sacks: 102.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills
48. Fred Dryer (tied)
> Career sacks: 103
> Years active: 1969-1981
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants
48. Tony McGee (tied)
> Career sacks: 103
> Years active: 1971-1984
> Team(s): New England Patriots, Washington Football Team
47. Dexter Manley
> Career sacks: 103.5
> Years active: 1981-1991
> Team(s): Washington Football Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
45. Neil Smith (tied)
> Career sacks: 104.5
> Years active: 1988-2000
> Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos
45. Kevin Carter (tied)
> Career sacks: 104.5
> Years active: 1995-2008
> Team(s): St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans
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
40. Jack Gregory (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1967-1979
> Team(s): New York Giants, Cleveland Browns
40. Trace Armstrong (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1989-2003
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears
40. Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (tied)
> Career sacks: 106
> Years active: 1974-1989
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys
38. Pat Swilling (tied)
> Career sacks: 107.5
> Years active: 1986-1998
> Team(s): New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders
38. Mark Gastineau (tied)
> Career sacks: 107.5
> Years active: 1979-1988
> Team(s): New York Jets
37. Greg Townsend
> Career sacks: 109.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Los Angeles Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles
36. Von Miller
> Career sacks: 110.5
> Years active: 2011-2021
> Team(s): Denver Broncos
35. Randy White
> Career sacks: 111
> Years active: 1975-1988
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys
34. Lyle Alzado
> Career sacks: 112
> Years active: 1971-1985
> Team(s): Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Raiders
33. Sean Jones
> Career sacks: 113
> Years active: 1984-1996
> Team(s): Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders
32. Harvey Martin
> Career sacks: 114
> Years active: 1973-1983
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys
31. Jacob Green
> Career sacks: 115.5
> Years active: 1980-1992
> Team(s): Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers
30. Clyde Simmons
> Career sacks: 121.5
> Years active: 1986-2000
> Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals
29. Simeon Rice
> Career sacks: 122
> Years active: 1996-2007
> Team(s): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals
28. Cedrick Hardman
> Career sacks: 122.5
> Years active: 1970-1981
> Team(s): San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
27. Robert Mathis
> Career sacks: 123
> Years active: 2003-2016
> Team(s): Indianapolis Colts
26. Dwight Freeney
> Career sacks: 125.5
> Years active: 2002-2017
> Team(s): Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers
25. Derrick Thomas
> Career sacks: 126.5
> Years active: 1989-1999
> Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs
24. Claude Humphrey
> Career sacks: 130
> Years active: 1968-1981
> Team(s): Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles
22. Jim Marshall (tied)
> Career sacks: 130.5
> Years active: 1960-1979
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns
22. Coy Bacon (tied)
> Career sacks: 130.5
> Years active: 1968-1981
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, Washington Football Team
21. Al Baker
> Career sacks: 131
> Years active: 1978-1990
> Team(s): Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams
20. Leslie O’Neal
> Career sacks: 132.5
> Years active: 1986-1999
> Team(s): San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs
18. Carl Eller (tied)
> Career sacks: 133.5
> Years active: 1964-1979
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
18. John Abraham (tied)
> Career sacks: 133.5
> Years active: 2000-2014
> Team(s): Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets
16. Rickey Jackson (tied)
> Career sacks: 136
> Years active: 1981-1995
> Team(s): New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers
16. Jared Allen (tied)
> Career sacks: 136
> Years active: 2004-2015
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs
14. John Randle (tied)
> Career sacks: 137.5
> Years active: 1990-2003
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
14. Richard Dent (tied)
> Career sacks: 137.5
> Years active: 1983-1997
> Team(s): Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts
13. DeMarcus Ware
> Career sacks: 138.5
> Years active: 2005-2016
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
12. Terrell Suggs
> Career sacks: 139
> Years active: 2003-2019
> Team(s): Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals
11. Jason Taylor
> Career sacks: 139.5
> Years active: 1997-2011
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
10. Michael Strahan
> Career sacks: 141.5
> Years active: 1993-2007
> Team(s): New York Giants
9. Lawrence Taylor
> Career sacks: 142
> Years active: 1981-1993
> Team(s): New York Giants
8. Alan Page
> Career sacks: 148.5
> Years active: 1967-1981
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears
7. Chris Doleman
> Career sacks: 150.5
> Years active: 1985-1999
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers
6. Jack Youngblood
> Career sacks: 151.5
> Years active: 1971-1984
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams
5. Julius Peppers
> Career sacks: 159.5
> Years active: 2002-2018
> Team(s): Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears
4. Kevin Greene
> Career sacks: 160
> Years active: 1985-1999
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Deacon Jones
> Career sacks: 173.5
> Years active: 1961-1974
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers
2. Reggie White
> Career sacks: 198
> Years active: 1985-2000
> Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
1. Bruce Smith
> Career sacks: 200
> Years active: 1985-2003
> Team(s): Buffalo Bills, Washington Football Team