Outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith accomplished a few things during the 2019 season that have never been done in the history of the Green Bay Packers, well, at least since the invention of the sack statistic in 1982.
The two Smiths became the first pair of defenders in team history to each produce 12 or more sacks in a single season. They were also the only duo in the NFL to hit the 12-sack mark in 2019.
The 25.5 total sacks by the Smiths set a new franchise record for a season.
Just give Brian Gutekunst the award for NFL Executive of the Year.
Za’Darius Smith, who signed a four-year deal worth $66 million, set a new career-high with 13.5 sacks. He led the NFL in total pressures, pressure rate and expected sacks.
Preston Smith, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal set a new career-high with 12 sacks. He started fast and easily eclipsed his previous career-high of eight sacks.
Together, the Smiths produced 25.5 sacks, 60 quarterback hits and 28 tackles for losses.
Za’Darius and Preston Smith were also the only pass-rusher duo to both have 23 or more quarterback hits in 2019. Za’Darius Smith finished first in the NFL with 37.
Quarterback hits have been tracked by the NFL since 2006. Za’Darius Smith’s 37 hits rank first in franchise history and are tied for the sixth-most in the NFL ever.
Za’Darius Smith also led the NFL in quarterback knockdowns, a measure of how many times a player knocks the quarterback to the ground just after he released the football. He had 22.
Za’Darius Smith also became the first Packers player to register 13.5 sacks or more in a season since Clay Matthews in 2010. His sack total in 2019 is now tied for fifth in team history with Matthews and three others.
Combined sack leaders in a single season in Packers history:
| Year | Players | Total Sacks |
| 2019 | Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith | 25.5 |
| 1998 | Reggie White, Vonnie Holliday | 24.0 |
| 1993 | Reggie White, Bryce Paup | 24.0 |
| 2006 | Aaron Kampman, Corey Williams | 22.5 |
| 1989 | Tim Harris, Robert Brown | 22.5 |
| 2007 | Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila | 21.5 |
| 1995 | Reggie White, Sean Jones | 21.0 |
| 2010 | Clay Matthews, Cullen Jenkins | 20.5 |
| 2001 | Vonnie Holliday, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila | 20.5 |
| 1991 | Bryce Paup, Tony Bennett | 20.5 |
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