Will Bruce Smith’s sack record ever be broken?

[Boatdrinks]

Nope. Players don’t play for the length of time it would take ( except QBs as they are protected ) to come close while also maintaining top performance. Financially they don’t need to at todays NFL salaries. Players have a lot more self preservation in mind and get out early to limit physical issues down the road. Anything is possible, but I don’t think it will happen for these reasons and probably some others that have been mentioned as well. 

[QCity]

Nope. Players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they've ever been and their bodies can't take that kind of punishment to sustain the longevity it would take (15+ seasons).

[Ethan in Cleveland]

My knee jerk answer was going to be no for the reasons outlined by others. 

But I think TJ Watt has a chance. Watt has 77.5 sacks in 6 years and up until last season he only missed 3 games in 5 years. He would need several great seasons in the next 5 years and then hang around into late 30s to have a shot.

Also they added a 17th game which helps pad the stats.

Edited August 23, 2023 by Ethan in Cleveland

[MJS]

Never, unless the NFL transitions away from the quick passing game and back to 7 to 10 step drops.

[Freddie's Dead]

Imma say no.

[Matt_In_NH]

I will say yes.....sports science and rules to reduce injuries of passing.....the NFL sack leader is often around 20 sacks for the year which is higher than it was 30 years ago.  Quarterbacks are better about getting rid of the ball than in Bruce's time. I love Bruce, he was my favorite but he is not the leader in sacks/year, he is the career leader.  Similar to Brady being the passing leader, he just played more years than some other guys.

[aristocrat]

Tj watt has an outside chance. If he puts up 20 this year he could get there

[HOUSE]

In 3 more years, Quarterback sacks will be illegal so the answer in no.

But, some new guy might pull more flags

[Buffalo_Stampede]

It’s a longevity stat. I don’t know if anyone can play that long and still put up numbers late in their career.

 

I thought about Von Miller. He has a chance. He says he’s going to play that long. If he finishes out this contract like he says and has 170 sacks at age 38 it’s possible he tries to break it.

[aristocrat]

9 minutes ago, Bill from NYC said:

Well, former Bills 1st round draft selection Ereck Flowers seemed to be on his way.

 

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FlowEr00.htm

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FlowEr20.htm

 

wrong Erik 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

7 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Short answer no

 

He was the prototype with longevity... So much power with speed... His first step? Forget about it

 

How violent he was? This show is rated R

 

He was a menace 

 

Agreed. Bruuuuce was Baaaaaad Things, Man:

 

 

[GunnerBill]

Think extremely unlikely for all the reasons listed. Namely:

 

1. The health and longevity is hard to achieve; 

2. The level of physicality you can hit QBs with is significantly reduced;

3. The QBs are more mobile;

4. The short passing game rather than the deep drop passing game is the order of the day in the modern game.

[mabden]

7 hours ago, AuntieEm said:

Plus you see him routinely beat double and triple teams. Not many top athletes can be as self motivated as Bruce was for as long as he played. 19 years is a long time to be playing pro football especially any players in trenches offense or defense.  They take a lot of pounding.  

 

 

 

 

Bruce was the one doing the pounding.  He was the rare bird that could take over a game.  Prime example being the Kelly Era Bills first home playoff game against Warren Moon's Houston Oilers.

[DaggersEOD]

9 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

JJ Watt was on pace to blow by the record then reality set in. Realistically you need a guy to play 15 seasons and average 13.33 sacks per year. Seems doable. That’s playing to age 35-37 depending on starting age. I honestly think it could happen, but injuries have riddled some of the best contenders the past 20 seasons who came along.

Well you are a sack Dr. so it must be true

[ddaryl]

All records eventually get broken

[Old Coot]

13 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

All records eventually get broken

I agree. Bruce was great -- better than great -- but someone will come along and break his record. Some records that seemed unbreakable at the time:

Unitas' record of passing for a TD in 47 straight games set in 1956-60 broken by Brees 50 years later and then by Brady. 

OJ's season russing yardage of 2003 yards set in 1973 and broken by Dickerson in 1984 (OJ is now 8th on the list but that's because there are 2-3 more games in a season).

Brady's career passing mark of 89,214 yards broken by Josh Allen in 2043.

 

The quick passing game existed when Bruce played -- the West Coast offense; the Run and Shoot.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

17 game season and teams are passing more than ever before? Yes, eventually every record will fall. 

[Gregg]

3 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

17 game season and teams are passing more than ever before? Yes, eventually every record will fall. 

 

I don't think OJ's record of 2,003 yards in 14 games will be broken. I know Eric Dickerson has the record with 2,105 yards but he needed 16 games to do it. With the way the league is now as a passing dominated league I just don't think you will see an RB run for over 2,000 yards and do it by game 14.

Edited August 23, 2023 by Gregg

[wppete]

No way anyone breaks it. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

Eventually most records fall. It's just the way it is. Some guy will come along at some point and be just as unstoppable.

 

I do feel comfortable saying that this record is not likely to be beaten in my lifetime. 

Edited August 23, 2023 by BuffaloBillyG