The Cincinnati Bengals ended their season with a 6-11 record after losing to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. However, the biggest story wasn’t just the score. It was a heated moment between Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the referees. Taylor was furious and was seen yelling at the officials during the game. He didn’t hold back his feelings later during the press conference.

“We’re playing for our lives here,” the head coach said to the reporters. “I was never told we were going to stop the game, and in a critical moment like that. The refs just said that they had made a decision that they were going to stop the game, and they said that they would try to do it as quickly as possible.”  

During the fourth quarter, Browns star Garrett sacked Joe Burrow. This was Garrett’s 23rd sack of the year, setting a new record for the most sacks in a single NFL season. To celebrate, Garrett’s teammates rushed onto the field, including players who weren’t even in the game. Usually, this would result in a penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct,” but the officials decided not to throw a flag, choosing instead to let the Browns enjoy the historic moment.

Well, whether the Browns have done anything worth undergoing a penalty or not is still unclear. But what we are sure of at this moment is that at 30 years old, Garrett finished the season with 23 sacks. 

But this achievement for Garrett didn’t come easily. His path to the record was fueled by several dominant performances throughout the year. His season was highlighted by a massive five-sack game against the New England Patriots in Week 8, followed by a four-sack outing against the Baltimore Ravens and three more against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

These explosive games helped him overcome a mid-season lull and pushed him past the record-breaking threshold in the final game of the year.

Since being selected as the first overall pick in 2017, Garrett has become one of the most feared defenders in football, totaling 125.5 sacks in 134 career games. 

Check out what Myles Garrett had to say about his own achievement

Browns star Myles Garrett has officially made NFL history. During the final game of the 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Garrett took down quarterback Joe Burrow with just over five minutes left in the game. This takedown was his 23rd sack of the year, breaking the previous record of 22.5 sacks held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. By reaching this milestone, Garrett has likely secured his legacy as the greatest pass rusher of his generation.

The record-breaking moment was an emotional relief for Garrett, who had been on pace for the milestone all season but hit a late-season slump. After failing to record a sack the previous week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the pressure began to weigh on him. He even admitted to having a nightmare the night before the Bengals game, where he failed to get the record. As he said after the game,

“I can’t lie, I was nervous as hell,” Garrett said about the pressure he felt entering the game in terms of getting the sack record. “I had a dream last night that I didn’t get it, and all the feelings that come with that. I woke up, I think I was sweating. I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to let that be my destiny.’ Just fighting like hell to not only rewrite history, but I feel like my own destiny.” 

Despite Garrett’s incredible individual success, the season was a difficult one for the Cleveland Browns, who finished with a disappointing 5-12 record. However, Garrett’s dominance remained a bright spot for the team. 

At 30 years old, he is now the frontrunner to win his second Defensive Player of the Year award. When asked how he planned to celebrate such a massive career achievement, Garrett kept it simple, telling reporters he would likely just enjoy some pizza and ice cream.