<Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Pos . </Th> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Seasons by team </Th> <Th> Total sacks </Th> <Th> Year of induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame </Th> <Th> Ref . </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Bruce Smith </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills ( 1985 -- 1999 ) Washington Redskins ( 2000 -- 2003 ) </Td> <Td> 200 </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Reggie White </Td> <Td> Philadelphia Eagles ( 1985 -- 1992 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1993 -- 1998 ) Carolina Panthers ( 2000 ) </Td> <Td> 198 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Kevin Greene </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Rams ( 1985 -- 1992 ) Pittsburgh Steelers ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Carolina Panthers ( 1996 , 1998 -- 1999 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1997 ) </Td> <Td> 160 </Td> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE / OLB </Td> <Td> Julius Peppers </Td> <Td> Carolina Panthers ( 2002 -- 2009 , since 2017 ) Chicago Bears ( 2010 -- 2013 ) Green Bay Packers ( 2014 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 151.0 </Td> <Td> Active </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Chris Doleman </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings ( 1985 -- 1993 , 1999 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 1994 -- 1995 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1996 -- 1998 ) </Td> <Td> 150.5 </Td> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Michael Strahan </Td> <Td> New York Giants ( 1993 -- 2007 ) </Td> <Td> 141.5 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Jason Taylor </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins ( 1997 -- 2007 , 2009 , 2011 ) Washington Redskins ( 2008 ) New York Jets ( 2010 ) </Td> <Td> 139.5 </Td> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> OLB / DE </Td> <Td> DeMarcus Ware </Td> <Td> Dallas Cowboys ( 2005 -- 2013 ) Denver Broncos ( 2014 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 138.5 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2022 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> DT </Td> <Td> John Randle </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings ( 1990 -- 2000 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2001 -- 2003 ) </Td> <Td> 137.5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Richard Dent </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears ( 1983 -- 1993 , 1995 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1994 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 1996 ) Philadelphia Eagles ( 1997 ) </Td> <Td> 137.5 </Td> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Jared Allen </Td> <Td> Kansas City Chiefs ( 2004 -- 2007 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2008 -- 2013 ) Chicago Bears ( 2014 -- 2015 ) Carolina Panthers ( 2015 ) </Td> <Td> 136 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2021 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> DE / OLB </Td> <Td> John Abraham </Td> <Td> New York Jets ( 2000 -- 2005 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 2006 -- 2012 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2013 -- 2014 ) </Td> <Td> 133.5 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2020 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Leslie O'Neal </Td> <Td> San Diego Chargers ( 1986 -- 1995 ) St. Louis Rams ( 1996 -- 1997 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1998 -- 1999 ) </Td> <Td> 132.5 </Td> <Td> Z -- </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Taylor , Lawrence Lawrence Taylor </Td> <Td> New York Giants ( 1981 -- 1993 ) </Td> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Rickey Jackson </Td> <Td> New Orleans Saints ( 1981 -- 1993 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1994 -- 1995 ) </Td> <Td> 128 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Derrick Thomas </Td> <Td> Kansas City Chiefs ( 1989 -- 1999 ) </Td> <Td> 126.5 </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> OLB </Td> <Td> Dwight Freeney </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts ( 2002 -- 2012 ) San Diego Chargers ( 2013 -- 2014 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2015 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 2016 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2017 -- present ) </Td> <Td> 123.5 </Td> <Td> Active </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> OLB </Td> <Td> Robert Mathis </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts ( 2003 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 123 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2022 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Simeon Rice </Td> <Td> Arizona Cardinals ( 1996 -- 2000 ) Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 2001 -- 2006 )
<Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Pos . </Th> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Seasons by team </Th> <Th> Total sacks </Th> <Th> Year of induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame </Th> <Th> Ref . </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Bruce Smith </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills ( 1985 -- 1999 ) Washington Redskins ( 2000 -- 2003 ) </Td> <Td> 200 </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Reggie White </Td> <Td> Philadelphia Eagles ( 1985 -- 1992 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1993 -- 1998 ) Carolina Panthers ( 2000 ) </Td> <Td> 198 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Kevin Greene </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Rams ( 1985 -- 1992 ) Pittsburgh Steelers ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Carolina Panthers ( 1996 , 1998 -- 1999 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1997 ) </Td> <Td> 160 </Td> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE / OLB </Td> <Td> Julius Peppers </Td> <Td> Carolina Panthers ( 2002 -- 2009 , since 2017 ) Chicago Bears ( 2010 -- 2013 ) Green Bay Packers ( 2014 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 151.0 </Td> <Td> Active </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Chris Doleman </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings ( 1985 -- 1993 , 1999 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 1994 -- 1995 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1996 -- 1998 ) </Td> <Td> 150.5 </Td> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Michael Strahan </Td> <Td> New York Giants ( 1993 -- 2007 ) </Td> <Td> 141.5 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Jason Taylor </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins ( 1997 -- 2007 , 2009 , 2011 ) Washington Redskins ( 2008 ) New York Jets ( 2010 ) </Td> <Td> 139.5 </Td> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> OLB / DE </Td> <Td> DeMarcus Ware </Td> <Td> Dallas Cowboys ( 2005 -- 2013 ) Denver Broncos ( 2014 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 138.5 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2022 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> DT </Td> <Td> John Randle </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings ( 1990 -- 2000 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2001 -- 2003 ) </Td> <Td> 137.5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Richard Dent </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears ( 1983 -- 1993 , 1995 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1994 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 1996 ) Philadelphia Eagles ( 1997 ) </Td> <Td> 137.5 </Td> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Jared Allen </Td> <Td> Kansas City Chiefs ( 2004 -- 2007 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2008 -- 2013 ) Chicago Bears ( 2014 -- 2015 ) Carolina Panthers ( 2015 ) </Td> <Td> 136 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2021 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> DE / OLB </Td> <Td> John Abraham </Td> <Td> New York Jets ( 2000 -- 2005 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 2006 -- 2012 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2013 -- 2014 ) </Td> <Td> 133.5 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2020 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Leslie O'Neal </Td> <Td> San Diego Chargers ( 1986 -- 1995 ) St. Louis Rams ( 1996 -- 1997 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1998 -- 1999 ) </Td> <Td> 132.5 </Td> <Td> Z -- </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Taylor , Lawrence Lawrence Taylor </Td> <Td> New York Giants ( 1981 -- 1993 ) </Td> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Rickey Jackson </Td> <Td> New Orleans Saints ( 1981 -- 1993 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1994 -- 1995 ) </Td> <Td> 128 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> LB </Td> <Td> Derrick Thomas </Td> <Td> Kansas City Chiefs ( 1989 -- 1999 ) </Td> <Td> 126.5 </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> OLB </Td> <Td> Dwight Freeney </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts ( 2002 -- 2012 ) San Diego Chargers ( 2013 -- 2014 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2015 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 2016 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2017 -- present ) </Td> <Td> 123.5 </Td> <Td> Active </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> OLB </Td> <Td> Robert Mathis </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts ( 2003 -- 2016 ) </Td> <Td> 123 </Td> <Td> Eligible in 2022 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> DE </Td> <Td> Simeon Rice </Td> <Td> Arizona Cardinals ( 1996 -- 2000 ) Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 2001 -- 2006 )
who had the most sacks in the nfl
who had the most sacks in the nfl
Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith