After breaking the single-season sack record, the former Texas A&M standout secures the top spot as the league's most dominant force and its premier defensive icon.
Myles Garrett continues to build one of the most impressive careers ever by a former Texas A&M football player. Fresh off another dominant NFL season, the former Aggies standout has cemented himself as the league's premier defensive force, adding another historic campaign to an already remarkable résumé.
That sustained excellence was recognized in Bleacher Report's NFL Top 1000 rankings for the 2026 season, where Garrett claimed the No. 1 overall spot ahead of every other player in the league.
"Coming off the heels of setting the single-season sack record, Myles Garrett officially staked his claim as the best pass-rusher in NFL history," BR writes.
"While he still needs 75 sacks to supplant Bruce Smith on the all-time list, Garrett's ability to win in a multitude of ways and from several alignments should help him eventually reach that historic milestone."
Garrett is coming off a spectacular 2025 season in which he captured his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award while setting a new league record with 23 sacks.
His ability to consistently disrupt opposing offenses has made him the most feared defender in football, regardless of position.
Even with offenses routinely sending extra blockers his way, Garrett continues to produce at an elite level.
Before becoming an NFL superstar, Garrett established himself as one of the greatest defensive players in Texas A&M history.
During his three seasons in College Station, he terrorized SEC offenses with his rare blend of size, speed, and athleticism.
He finished his collegiate career as a unanimous All-American before becoming the No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.
He was the first Aggie to ever go number one overall, and he still remains the only one to do so.
For Texas A&M fans, Garrett's latest recognition is another reminder of the talent that once wore the Maroon and White.
Earning the No. 1 spot on a list of the top 1000 players in the NFL is another milestone in a career already filled with accomplishments, and it reinforces Garrett's status as not only one of the greatest Aggies ever, but one of the best players in all of professional football.
And he if keeps going at the pace he is, he could be considered the greatest defender ever, especially if he grabs some Super Bowl rings with the Los Angeles Rams.
