January 3, 2026 – Washington, DC

By Ron Harris – A simple 4 letter word, S A C K.  Sometimes referred to as a “sack of wheat” or a “sack of apples” or at times, a person is referred to as a “sad sack”.  When it comes to the football field, the little word is magical, mystical and golden.  Every player on defense wants as many as they can get.  The more the merrier.  A sack is defined by football statisticians, is to tackle the quarterback in the back field as he is trying to pass the football.  If the quarterback is seen to be running, with no plan to pass the ball, then tackling him does not result in a sack.

There are 67 players currently with 100 or more official sacks in National Football League history.  The sack stat became official in 1982.  The all-time official sack leader in NFL history is Bruce Smith with 200 sacks.  Currently the all-time official single season sack leaders are Michael Strahan and T. J. Watt with 22.5 sacks. Strahan played in a 16-game schedule and Watt played in a 17-game schedule.  Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett is sitting at 21.5 sacks with his 17th game to play, as of this writing.

There is plenty of discussion over the years of who the real leaders are in a single season.  Al Baker claims he had 23 sacks in 1978 for the Detroit Lions, 4 years before the stat became official in the NFL.  Jared Allen claims he had 23 sacks in 2011, when he said, “They took a sack from me” He finished with 22 sacks that year.  He was originally given the 23rd sack, until film later showed that Arron Rodgers fumbled or muffed the ball before the sack.  Then there is always the discussion about how many games were played in a single year.  Did a player play in 14 or 16 or now a 17-game season?

“I am honored to be in this group of players with over 100 sacks,” says 14-year veteran Tony McGee.  Tony finished with 103 official sacks, even he says, “In some way they said I had 103, but I know I had 106 sacks.”  McGee played for 3 teams in his career, finishing his time with the Washington Redskins, playing in 2 Super Bowls and winning one.  McGee recalls his early days in the NFL, he played from 1971 to 1985, “They never concerned themselves with sacks back then or the passing game.  It was all about stopping the run.  I first heard the work sack when Sam “Bam” Cunninham called me “Mac the Sack”, I was also the first player given the term “designated pass rusher” because of my speed and I would come in on third downs and rush the passer.”

McGee is number 39 on the official sack list from 1982 and number 58 on the unofficial list starting in 1960.  McGee was drafted in the third round by the Chicago Bears from Bishop College after 3 years at Wyoming University.  McGee and other Black players were dismissed from the Wyoming team because they participated in a protest in the 1960’s.  “I take pride in that I played in 203 out of 204 games in my NFL career.  Nothing but God made that happen, I actually could have played in that one game I missed.”   McGee was so accomplished as a pass rusher, coaches named their defense the “Tony Rush”, which allowed Tony to line up wherever he saw fit.  “Yes, I would rush from the left side or the right side or up the middle.  I had to use my brain because these offensive linemen were so much bigger than I was back then,” McGee recalls.  “I remember one O lineman was in his stance and he was taller than me and I was standing up,” McGee laughed.  The little word with the golden results.

About Ron Harris

Ron Harris, retired college administrator, coach, broadcaster, Internet and TV sports producer and host. Former radio host of a live call-in show.  Extremely close to the sports landscape in the Washington, DC metro area. Former radio sports reporter, covering MLB, college sports, major boxing events and much more.