For the fifth time in league history, six former Wisconsin Badgers have at least one sack in the NFL this season. As you might expect, J.J. and T.J. Watt lead this group.
J.J. Watt has 9.5 sacks this year while brother T.J. has four. The other four Badgers on the list this year are: T.J. Edwards (2), Jack Sanborn (2), Leo Chenal (1), and Matt Henningsen (1).
Most Badgers to have a sack in an NFL season is seven
The most former Badgers to have a sack in an NFL season are seven. That was done twice. It was first done in 1986 with these players (Dave Ahrens, Tom Baldwin, Tony Elliott, David Greenwood, Richard Johnson, Tim Krumrie, and Darryl Sims). In 2019, the Watt brothers were two of seven former Badgers to have a sack in the NFL. The others that season: Vince Biegel, Ryan Connelly, Leon Jacobs, Joe Schobert, and Andrew Van Ginkel).
In addition to 2022, six former Badgers had sacks also in 1988 and 2014.
Watt brothers accounted for 29 of 32 former Badgers sacks in 2018
The 2022 sextet of former Badgers have a total of 19.5 sacks with three games remaining in the season. The most sacks in an NFL season by former Badgers was 32 in 2018. That season the Watt brothers accounted for 29 of the 32 total sacks (J.J. had 16, T.J. had 13). Joe Schobert added another three sacks for the group.
The other year when former Badgers amassed 30 or more combined sacks was in 2020. T.J. Watt led the group with 15 sacks followed by Andrew Van Ginkel with 5.5, J.J. Watt with five, Joe Schobert with 2.5, and T.J. Edwards with two, for a total of 30.
There are eight former Badgers who have accumulated 10 or more career sacks in the NFL led by J.J. Watt with 111.5. Here are those eight players:
Badgers players with most career NFL sacks
111.5-J.J. Watt
76-T.J. Watt
34.5-Tim Krumrie
18.5-Matt Shaughnessy
15.5-O’Brien Schofield
13-Tony Elliott
11-Joe Schobert
11-Andrew Van Ginkel
One final stat: A former Wisconsin Badger has had a sack in the NFL for 40 consecutive years, dating back to 1983. That season Tony Elliott had 5.5 sacks for New Orleans and Tim Krumrie had 1.5 sacks in his rookie year with the Cincinnati Bengals.
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