Garrett claims sack record; other milestones from 2025 NFL season

image: News Garrett claims sack record; other milestones from 2025 NFL season Thumbnail

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett wrestled down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter of their Week 18 matchup for his NFL-record 23rd sack of the season. Garrett passed Hall of Famer MICHAEL STRAHAN (2001) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (2021), who previously shared the record with 22.5 sacks in a season sacks. The record-breaking sack also tied Garrett with Hall of Famers DeMARCUS WARE and REGGIE WHITE for the most games with a sack (79) in a player’s first nine seasons.

Rookie rewrites decades-old record

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike amassed a staggering 2,427 all-purpose yards in his 2025 campaign, establishing a new rookie record for that statistic.

He used his league-leading 17.3 yards per punt return to tally 398 return yards and a league-high two punts returned for a touchdown. His 1,588 yards notched on kick returns, 423 receiving yards and 18 rushing yards combined to topple Hall of Famer TIM BROWN'S record of 2,317 yards set in 1988.

Allen’s scoring reign continues

On the heels of his 2024 MVP campaign, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen set two NFL records in 2025. He scored his 76th career rushing touchdown in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, setting a league record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Another former league MVP, Cam Newton, totaled 75 in his 11-year career.

With his Week 17 rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, Allen became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdowns. At 29 years old at the time, Allen shattered the previous record set by Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING, who was 31.

Jefferson streaks into record book

In Week 17, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson hauled in a 10-yard pass from quarterback Max Brosmer against the Detroit Lions to break Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS' record for most receiving yards in a player’s first six seasons. Jefferson has amassed 8,480 yards in 94 games played; Moss totaled 8,375 over 96 games.

Jefferson also joined Moss and wide receiver Mike Evans as the only players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six seasons. Despite catching passes from three different quarterbacks, the two-time first-team All-Pro finished the season with 84 receptions for 1,048 yards.

Browns’ historic youth movement

With an outstanding 2025 draft, the Cleveland Browns became the first team since the 1970 merger with a rookie leading the team in season passing, rushing, receiving and tackle statistics.

Fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders (1,400 passing yards in eight games), second-round selections Quinshon Judkins (827 rushing yards) and Carson Schwesinger (156 combined tackles, 67 solo) and third-round selection Harold Fannin Jr. (72 catches, 731 yards) led the Browns in those categories.

Little’s big leg

Cam Little of the Jacksonville Jaguars kicked the two longest field goals in NFL history this season. With a 68-yarder Nov. 2 inside of the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, Little rewrote the NFL record book.

Then, on Jan. 4 against the Titans in Nissan Stadium, Little was good from 67 yards – the longest kick outdoors and second longest overall in NFL history.

Cardinals’ tight end takes flight

On Dec. 28, 2025, Trey McBride caught his record-setting 117th pass of the 2025 season, marking the most by a tight end in an NFL season. McBride worked back to catch a pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a short hitch route late in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals to overtake former teammate Zach Ertz, who set the record at 116 in 2018.

McBride finished his 2025 campaign with a franchise-record 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Stafford, Nacua lead Rams’ prolific offense

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford led the NFL with both 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes this season, surpassing Tom Brady (age 43) for the second-most touchdown passes by a quarterback age 37 or older. Pro Bowl wide received Puka Nacua accounted for 1,715 of those yards, giving him 4,191 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2023 and passing Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS for the second-most all time in a player’s first three seasons. Justin Jefferson ranks first at 4,825. Stafford also joined Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING and DAN MARINO as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw multiple touchdown passes in 15 games in a single season.

Three’s a crowd

In Week 18, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce caught a 5-yard pass at the start of the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders to bring his career receiving yardage total to 13,002. He joined Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ and Class of 2026 Modern-Era Player Finalist Jason Witten as the only tight ends in NFL history with more than 13,000 career receiving yards.

Motor City marvels

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, propelled by 4,564 yards this season, has amassed 36,622 career passing yards, eclipsing Hall of Famer DAN MARINO for the third-most in a player’s first 10 seasons.

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs tallied 18 scrimmage touchdowns this season, bringing his total to a league-leading 49 since being drafted in 2023. Scoring at least one touchdown in 10 games this season, Gibbs tied Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS and BARRY SANDERS at 31 for most games with at least one scrimmage touchdown in a player’s first three seasons.

Perfect 10s

The following players entered or moved up in the Top 10 in their respective categories in the 2025 season:

  • Drake Maye

    • Pass Completion Percentage - 72% - Fifth-most
  • Puka Nacua

    • Receptions - 129 - Seventh-most
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba

    • Receiving Yards - 1,793 - Eighth-most
    • First Seahawk to lead league in receiving yards since Hall of Famer STEVE LARGENT (1,297 in 1985)
  • KaVontae Turpin

    • Kick Return Yards - 1,814 - Second-most
  • Ka’imi Fairbairn

    • Field Goals Made - 44 - Tied, most
  • Jason Myers

    • Field Goals Made - 41 - Tied, third-most
  • Aaron Rodgers

    • Passes Completed - 5,696 - 5th All-Time (Up from 7th)
    • Passing Yards - 66,274 - 5th All-Time (Up from 7th)
    • Passing Touchdowns - 527 - 4th All-Time (Passed Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE)
  • Matthew Stafford

    • Passes Completed - 5,562 - 6th All-Time (Up from 9th)
    • Passing Yards - 64,516 - 6th All-Time (Up from 10th; passed Hall of Famer DAN MARINO + Others)
    • Passing Touchdowns - 423 - 7th All-Time (Up from 10th; passed Hall of Famer DAN MARINO)
  • Derrick Henry

  • Travis Kelce

  • Davante Adams

  • Lavonte David

    • Tackles - 1,172 - 4th All-Time (Up from 5th; since official stat)
  • Bobby Wagner

    • Tackles - 1,150 - 5th All-Time (Up from 9th; passed Hall of Famers ZACH THOMAS, JUNIOR SEAU + Others; since official stat)
NFL