Who is Al “Bubba” Baker? The NFL’s unofficial sack leader has a message for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Bubba Baker Talks Myles Garrett
Unlocked: Why the true NFL sack king is rooting for Myles Garrett to shatter his record via TLOD https://t.co/aqdSyK2k49
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 5, 2025
Two NFL players are tied for the most sacks in a season with 22.5: New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.
22.5 is the official record. However, there is an unofficial record belonging to Baker, a former NFL defensive end who played from 1978 to 1990.
The NFL did not start tracking sacks until 1982. In 1978, Baker recorded 23.0 sacks with the Detroit Lions, per ProFootballReference.com.
Heading into Week 14, Garrett has 19.0 sacks, meaning he needs four sacks to become the NFL’s official new sack king. If he gets five sacks, then he passes Baker on the all-time list.
How does Baker feel about the sack record? The only man with 23.0 sacks is rooting for Garrett.
“Myles Garrett will break the 23 because he’s driven,” Baker said in an interview with TheLandOnDemand.com. “And I guarantee you he knows Al Bubba Baker has 23. So that’s what he’ll break, and that’s what he wants to break. And he’ll do it because that’s how [pass rushers’] mindsets are. And he is the premier defensive player in all of the National Football League. Has been for, I’d say, five years. I mean, you would think that the Browns are 15-2 with how many sacks he has. He’s just an all-around great defensive end. He’s a phenomenal end.”
Where Does Myles Garrett Rank on the All-Time Sack List?
Myles Garrett is on record watch this weekend 👀 pic.twitter.com/lCI0yaOf5Y
— PFF (@PFF) December 5, 2025
Baker praised Garrett’s “freak” athleticism, citing it as one of the components for his success. Does Baker believe Garrett is the best pass rusher of all time?
“It’s very premature, because the best pass rusher of all time has 200 [sacks],” Baker explained. “His name is Bruce Smith.”
Smith is first in NFL history with 200 sacks, followed by Reggie White (198.0), Deacon Jones (173.5), Kevin Greene (160.0), and Julius Peppers (159.5).
Garrett currently has 121.5 in nine NFL seasons (tied for 32nd). It took Smith 18 seasons to reach 200 sacks. If Garrett averages roughly nine sacks a year over the next nine seasons, he will surpass Garrett.
“And let me tell you, the true test is the last ones to get to 23,” Baker said. “Let’s say these last five. You know why? Because every offensive coordinator is going to say, ‘If anybody beats it, it damn well better not be number 95.’”
Baker wants Garrett to beat his record so that there will never be a debate on the official versus unofficial sack record. If Garrett gets more than 23, he is the true sack king.
“I wish him the best because nobody’s discussed my 23. I’m the guy that’s the unofficial guy,” Baker explained. But that 22 and a half? T.J. Watt is there, and Michael Strahan. I’d like to see him do nothing better than to put it in a place where nobody can question it. Yeah, that’s right. That’s Myles Garrett. And he deserves it.”
The Browns (3-9) host the Tennessee Titans (1-11) on Dec. 7.
