Steelers' James Harrison Issues Bold Statement To Browns' Myles Garrett Before Record-Breaking Sack

Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher, TJ Watt appears unlikely to return in Week 17 to face off against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers, now 9-6, have played the last two games without Watt as he recovers from a punctured lung he suffered while receiving dry needling treatment at the Steelers facility. Watt’s absence has left a noticeable hole in Pittsburgh’s pass rush, forcing the team to rely on depth players to pressure opposing quarterbacks. While the Steelers’ playoff hopes remain alive, the uncertainty around Watt’s availability adds another layer of challenge heading into a crucial matchup against a division rival.

In seasons past, debates have raged over who is the superior pass rusher between Browns star Myles Garrett and Watt. Both players boast impressive resumes and have consistently produced at a high level, making either case compelling. However, in the 2025 season, the argument seems settled, for now. Garrett has clearly outperformed Watt throughout the year, despite playing for one of the NFL’s weaker teams. His dominance has been undeniable, highlighting his ability to consistently disrupt offenses and lead the league in sacks even without elite surrounding talent.

Garrett is now on the verge of breaking the NFL single-season sack record in 2025, currently sitting at 22 sacks after Week 16, just half a sack shy of the shared record held by Michael Strahan and Watt at 22.5. 

Former Steelers star linebacker James Harrison addressed the looming milestone on his podcast Deebo & Joe, joined by Joe Haden on Friday, delivering a bold message to Garrett. Harrison’s comments underscored the gravity of Garrett’s pursuit, emphasizing the challenge of facing a Steelers offensive line that won't want QB Aaron Rodgers to get sacked on Sunday. 

"Listen, he da** sure ain't breaking that record this week," Harrison said while speaking with Haden on their podcast Friday. "What do you got to say about that, Joe?"

Harrison's argument is that this Steelers offensive line simply won't allow Garrett to get Rodgers down.

Harrison asked Haden, who played seven seasons with the Browns and five with the Steelers, what he thought about Garrett’s chances. Haden disagreed with Harrison, believing that Garrett will indeed break the record by sacking Rodgers on Sunday.

"Myles is gonna break the record this week," Haden said. "He’s gonna sack A-rod and that is gonna suck. The Steelers still gonna win, but Myles gonna break the record. In Cleveland’s stadium and sacking Rodgers."

In an ironic twist, Garrett has a “graveyard” he talks about often. Before the 2025 season began, and after the news of Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh had broken, Garrett said he was excited to put Rodgers in his graveyard. He didn’t get the chance to sack Rodgers when they played earlier in the 2025 season.

Steelers' Offensive Line Will Try To Make Breaking Record Hard For Browns' Myles Garrett

Now, with the single-season sack record within reach and the chance to finally add Rodgers to his quarterback graveyard, Garrett will be more motivated than ever to make the sack happen at home on Sunday. However, as Harrison articulated, the Steelers are well aware of the record chase and will go all out to prevent Garrett from reaching it. It promises to be a true pros-on-pros showdown, where stopping Garrett will be no easy task.

With his incredible production throughout the 2025 season, Garrett has proven just how dangerous he can be. However, in this matchup, the stakes are higher than ever, and the Steelers’ offensive line will have every incentive to rise to the occasion. In the end, it may come down to who wants it more, with Garrett chasing individual glory while the Steelers fight for playoff positioning.

Will Myles Garrett break the record while sacking Aaron Rodgers? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!

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