aidan hutchinson

Pressure Score

Sacks Aren't Everything

While it is easy to simply look at how many sacks a player has amassed and decide whether or not he is a good pass rusher, we know it doesn’t paint the full picture. A lot of players generate hurries or hits that disrupt the passer without finishing the job and others see a decrease in sacks from one year to the next as opposing defenses scheme to nullify his impact. 

To help, we have generated pressure score, a weighted metric that applies value to hurries (1 point per), hits (2 points and sacks (3 points). Our data goes back to the 2006 season. Based on this data, a player having a pressure score of 80 or above is having a good season, 100 or above is a great season while 130 and above is elite production.

 

Pressure Score Leaders By Year

1,000 Pressure Score Club

The following players have amassed a career pressure score of 1,000 or more:

  1. Von Miller (2011-) – 1,260
  2. Cameron Jordan (2011-) 1,218
  3. Calais Campbell (2008-) 1,212
  4. Aaron Donald (2014-2023) – 1,175
  5. J.J. Watt (2011-2022) – 1,160
  6. Cameron Wake (2009-2019) – 1,105
  7. Khalil Mack (2014-) 1,087
  8. DeMarcus Ware (2005-2016) – 1,063*
  9. Carlos Dunlap (2010-2022) – 1,058
  10. Jared Allen (2004-2015) – 1033*
  11. Julius Peppers (2002-2018) – 1,014*
  12. Cameron Heyward (2011-) 1,007

* Some seasons of data are missing on these players as data is only available as far back as 2006

On the Cusp

The following active players are within 150 points of joining the 1,000 pressure score club prior to the start of the 2026 season:

Myles Garrett – 988

Chris Jones – 949

Danielle Hunter – 942

Brandon Graham – 936

Chris Jones – 904

T.J. Watt – 901

Leonard Williams – 867

 

Best Individual Seasons

The 10 best pressure score seasons include:

  1. J.J. Watt (2014) – 205
  2. Aaron Donald (2018) – 168
  3. J.J. Watt (2015) – 164
  4. Nick Bosa (2022) – 158
  5. Micah Parsons (2023) – 153
  6. Aidan Hutchinson (2025) – 152
  7. Robert Quinn (2013) – 150
  8. Myles Garrett (2025) – 148
  9. Za’Darius Smith (2019) – 147
  10. Tamba Hali (2010) – 147

The Best Pressure Score Season from Each Team

Each team’s best single-season performer:

Cardinals: Chandler Jones (2017) – 128

Falcons: John Abraham (2008) – 122

Ravens: Terrell Suggs (2010)/Trevor Pryce (2006) – 112

Bills: Kyle Williams (2013) – 112

Panthers: Greg Hardy (2013) – 136

Bears: Montez Sweat (2023) – 106

Bengals: Trey Hendrickson (2024) – 135

Browns: Myles Garrett (2025) – 148

Cowboys: Micah Parsons (2023) – 153

Broncos: Von Miller (2012) – 140

Lions: Aidan Hutchinson (2025) – 152

Packers: Za’Darius Smith (2019) – 147

Texans: J.J. Watt (2014) – 205

Colts: Dwight Freeney (2010) – 102

Jaguars: Josh Hines-Allen (2023) – 145

Chiefs: Tamba Hali (2010) – 147

Raiders: Maxx Crosby (2021) – 140

Chargers: Khalil Mack (2023) – 135

Rams: Aaron Donald (2018) – 168

Dolphins: Cameron Wake (2012) – 143

Vikings: Danielle Hunter (2019) – 129

Patriots: Matthew Judon (2022) – 117

Saints: Cameron Jordan (2019) – 123

Giants: Olivier Vernon (2016) – 121

Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson (2015) – 127

Eagles: Fletcher Cox (2018) – 141

Steelers: T.J. Watt (2023) – 145

49ers: Nick Bosa (2022) – 158

Seahawks: Michael Bennett (2015) – 122

Buccaneers: Shaquil Barrett (2019) – 140

Titans: Kyle Vanden Bosch (2007) – 123

Commanders: Ryan Kerrigan (2014) – 108