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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cameron DaSilva

Where does Aaron Donald rank in NFL history for most career sacks?

Like many players before him, Aaron Donald is leaving the NFL on his own terms. He’s chosen to retire after 10 seasons, exiting the game of football with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Super Bowl ring and, most importantly, his health.

Donald was remarkably productive during his decade in the league, setting the Rams record for the most sacks in a player’s career with 111. As a defensive tackle, it makes that accomplishment all the more impressive.

But where does Donald rank in NFL history for the most career sacks? Pretty high on the list, especially as an interior defensive lineman. According to Pro Football Reference, Donald’s 111 career sacks are the 28th-most all-time. Bruce Smith holds the NFL record with 200, but only five players in league history reached even 150 sacks: Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Julius Peppers and Chris Doleman.

Sacks didn’t become an official stat until 1982, so that excludes several legends of the past – including Deacon Jones and Jack Youngblood – but Donald finishing his career 28th all-time is outstanding.

The only other defensive tackle to reach 100 career sacks was John Randle, who had 137.5. Below are the top 30 players on the all-time sacks list.

Official Leaders Table
Rank Player Sk Years
1 Bruce Smith+ 200.0 1985-2003
2 Reggie White+ 198.0 1985-2000
3 Kevin Greene+ 160.0 1985-1999
4 Julius Peppers+ 159.5 2002-2018
5 Chris Doleman+ 150.5 1985-1999
6 Michael Strahan+ 141.5 1993-2007
7 Jason Taylor+ 139.5 1997-2011
8 Terrell Suggs 139.0 2003-2019
9 DeMarcus Ware+ 138.5 2005-2016
10 Richard Dent+ 137.5 1983-1997
John Randle+ 137.5 1990-2003
12 Jared Allen 136.0 2004-2015
13 John Abraham 133.5 2000-2014
14 Leslie O’Neal 132.5 1986-1999
Lawrence Taylor+ 132.5 1981-1993
16 Rickey Jackson+ 128.0 1981-1995
17 Derrick Thomas+ 126.5 1989-1999
18 Dwight Freeney+ 125.5 2002-2017
19 Von Miller 123.5 2011-2023
20 Robert Mathis 123.0 2003-2016
21 Simeon Rice 122.0 1996-2007
22 Clyde Simmons 121.5 1986-2000
23 Cameron Jordan 117.5 2011-2023
24 J.J. Watt 114.5 2011-2022
25 Sean Jones 113.0 1984-1996
26 Justin Houston 112.0 2011-2023
Chandler Jones 112.0 2012-2022
28 Aaron Donald 111.0 2014-2023
29 Greg Townsend 109.5 1983-1997
30 Pat Swilling 107.5 1986-1998

Had Donald played another two or three years, which he certainly would’ve been capable of doing, he likely would have cracked the top 15 and potentially broken Randle’s record for the most sacks ever by a defensive tackle.

Instead of chasing records, Donald was comfortable with his career record and wanted to retire with a mostly clean bill of health at 32 years old.

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