Top 5 players with the most sacks in NFL history ft. Kevin Greene & Julius Peppers
Quarterback sacks are some of the most intriguing and satisfying plays in football. It's a moment where the defensive player tackles and takes down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage just before he can throw the ball.
Over the years, some incredible players have amassed a high number of sacks over the course of their careers. It's worth noting that the NFL began keeping track of sacks in 1982.
Here are the players with the most recorded sacks in NFL history:
#5. Chris Doleman - 150.5 Sacks
Chris Doleman played for three different teams during his 15-year NFL career, spending the majority of it with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a powerful pass-rusher, known for his ability to defend against runs, making him a complete player on defense.
Doleman recorded a total of 150.5 career sacks. The defensive end was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection during his playing days. He led the league in sacks in 1989 and forced fumbles in 1987. The Pittsburgh Panthers football program alum was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
#4. Julius Peppers - 159.5 Sacks
Julius Peppers played for 17 seasons in the NFL, with most of his career spent with the Carolina Panthers. He was known for his size and athleticism, as well as his ability to rush passers. The former North Carolina Tar Heels player played as a defensive end and an outside linebacker.
9 Pro Bowls
159.5 sacks 
NFL 2000s + 2010s All-Decade Team💥9 Pro Bowls
😤159.5 sacks
🏆NFL 2000s + 2010s All-Decade Team
Is Julius Peppers a first-ballot Hall of Famer?
https://t.co/xAFlANBujY
Peppers finished his career with 159.5 sacks, putting him at number four on the all-time list. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and made the Pro Bowl on nine different occasions. Peppers is the only non-Hall of Fame inductee on this list, as the Panthers legend won't be eligible for the honor until 2024.
#3. Kevin Greene - 160 Sacks
Kevin Greene played for four different teams during his 15-year NFL career, which included the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was known for his versatility as he plays both as a linebacker and defensive end.
Greene was a fierce pass-rusher, finishing his career with 160 sacks. The Auburn Tigers alum won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year once and made five Pro Bowl appearances. He also led the league in sacks on two occasions, the most by any NFL player. Greene was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016.
#2. Reggie White - 198 Sacks
Reggie White, also known as "The Minister of Defense," was a dominant force on the field. Drafted in the one-of-a-kind supplemental draft in 1984, White played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers during his career.
Reggie White casually using wide receivers as projectiles 😂 https://t.co/zyMB3kql9C
White's signature move was his "hump move," where he would use his strength and speed to power past the offensive linemen. He finished his career with 198 sacks, just two sacks shy of Bruce Smith's record. The thirteen-time Pro Bowler was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year on two occasions and became a Hall of Famer in 2006.
#1. Bruce Smith - 200 Sacks
Bruce Smith is widely considered one of the greatest NFL defensive players of all time. He played 19 seasons in the NFL, with the majority of his career spent with the Buffalo Bills. Smith was known for his speed and agility, as well as his ability to overpower offensive linemen.
Most sacks in @NFL history.
Bruce Smith was UNSTOPPABLE. 💪 https://t.co/FaKrYTCI96
Drafted as the first overall pick in 1985, the defensive end amassed a total of 200 sacks in his career, making him the NFL's all-time leader in sacks. He was a two-time winner of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and appeared in 11 Pro Bowls. Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.