Texas A&M Legend Myles Garrett Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Feb 05, 2026 | Football
SAN FRANCISCO – Former Texas A&M football standout Myles Garrett was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time on Thursday at the annual NFL Honors show at the Palace of the Fine Arts as part of Super Bowl 60 festivities.
Garrett, a three-year letterwinner for the Aggies from 2014-16, was a unanimous pick with 50 first-place votes among the selectors after setting the NFL single-season sack record with 23 quarterback takedowns. He broke the old record of 22.5 originally set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants in 2001 and matched by T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. He had previously been named 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
The Arlington, Texas, native hit milestones throughout the 2025 season, as he also broke the Browns single-season sack record that he set in 2021 and tied in 2022. Garrett became the first player since 1982 to record 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons when he recorded his 12th sack of the season in Week 11, as well set the record for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30, surpassing Reggie White. He is also the first player in NFL history to record at least 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons.
In addition to his 23 sacks, Garrett led the league with 33 tackles for loss during the regular season and set a career high in tackles for loss. His 33 tackles for loss are also the second-most by a player in a single season since 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt who totaled 39 tackles for loss in 2012. Garrett added 60 tackles and 39 quarterback hits, as well as one pass breakup and three forced fumbles.
Garrett is ninth player to win multiple AP Defensive Players of the Year, joining Aaron Donald (3), JJ Watt (3), Lawrence Taylor (3), Mike Singletary (2), Joe Greene (2), Ray Lewis (2), Reggie White (2) and Bruce Smith (2). Garrett had previously earned the AP honor in 2023 and was a finalist in 2024. He is a five-time NFL First Team All-Pro selection and has finished in the top five of the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the past four seasons.
Garrett was the second Aggie to win the NFL's top defensive player award, joining Lester "The Judge" Hayes, who won the honor in 1980 when he led the league with 13 interceptions. Hayes was inducted to the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.
In his three years in Aggieland, Garrett earned First Team All-America honors as a sophomore and junior, and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Defensive End Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2016. He finished his collegiate career with 32.5 sacks, which ranks sixth-most in school annals. He posted double-digit sacks twice, including a career-high 12.5 in 2015. He remains Texas A&M's only No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection after being taken first by the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
Garrett, a three-year letterwinner for the Aggies from 2014-16, was a unanimous pick with 50 first-place votes among the selectors after setting the NFL single-season sack record with 23 quarterback takedowns. He broke the old record of 22.5 originally set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants in 2001 and matched by T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. He had previously been named 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
The Arlington, Texas, native hit milestones throughout the 2025 season, as he also broke the Browns single-season sack record that he set in 2021 and tied in 2022. Garrett became the first player since 1982 to record 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons when he recorded his 12th sack of the season in Week 11, as well set the record for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30, surpassing Reggie White. He is also the first player in NFL history to record at least 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons.
In addition to his 23 sacks, Garrett led the league with 33 tackles for loss during the regular season and set a career high in tackles for loss. His 33 tackles for loss are also the second-most by a player in a single season since 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt who totaled 39 tackles for loss in 2012. Garrett added 60 tackles and 39 quarterback hits, as well as one pass breakup and three forced fumbles.
Garrett is ninth player to win multiple AP Defensive Players of the Year, joining Aaron Donald (3), JJ Watt (3), Lawrence Taylor (3), Mike Singletary (2), Joe Greene (2), Ray Lewis (2), Reggie White (2) and Bruce Smith (2). Garrett had previously earned the AP honor in 2023 and was a finalist in 2024. He is a five-time NFL First Team All-Pro selection and has finished in the top five of the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the past four seasons.
Garrett was the second Aggie to win the NFL's top defensive player award, joining Lester "The Judge" Hayes, who won the honor in 1980 when he led the league with 13 interceptions. Hayes was inducted to the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.
In his three years in Aggieland, Garrett earned First Team All-America honors as a sophomore and junior, and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Defensive End Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2016. He finished his collegiate career with 32.5 sacks, which ranks sixth-most in school annals. He posted double-digit sacks twice, including a career-high 12.5 in 2015. He remains Texas A&M's only No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection after being taken first by the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
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