In the NFL, a forced fumble refers to a defensive play wherein a defensive player successfully causes the offensive player to lose the football from their grasp when the ball is in their possession. That play aims to create a turnover and allow the defensive team to gain possession of the ball to play offense. After a forced fumble, the ball is considered to be “loose'' At this point either the defense or the offense can try to gain possession of the ball. The team that recovers the ball after the fumble gains possession of the ball and will play offense on the next play.
The player who recovers the ball after the forced fumble is credited with what is called the fumble recovery while the player who caused the fumble is credited with the forced fumble. The NFL maintains career and single-season records of both these statistics.
Which player leads the NFL in Forced Fumbles?
As of January 2025, the following players led the league in forced fumbles starting from 1993:
| Year | Player | Forced Fumbles |
| 1993 | Lonnie Marts | 6 |
| 1994 | Greg Lloyd, Neil Smith, Bruce Smith | 5 |
| 1995 | Greg Lloyd, Ed McDaniel, Anthony Pleasant, Clyde Simmons | 6 |
| 1996 | Tony Brackens, Kevin Carter, Jason Sehorn, Bruce Smith | 5 |
| 1997 | Roy Barker | 8 |
| 1998 | Michael Sinclair | 6 |
| 1999 | Tony Brackens, Jevon Kearse | 8 |
| 2000 | Trace Armstrong | 7 |
| 2001 | John Abraham, Michael Strahan | 6 |
| 2002 | Dwight Freeney, Leonard Little | 9 |
| 2003 | LaVar Arrington, Leonard Little, Simeon Rice | 6 |
| 2004 | Robert Mathis, Will Smith | 6 |
| 2005 | Robert Mathis | 8 |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor | 9 |
| 2007 | Chris Harrison | 8 |
| 2008 | James Harrison | 7 |
| 2009 | Shaun Phillips | 7 |
| 2010 | Osi Umenyiora | 10 |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs | 7 |
| 2012 | Charles Tillman | 10 |
| 2013 | Robert Mathis | 10 |
| 2014 | Ryan Kerrigan, Robert Quinn, Daryl Smith | 5 |
| 2015 | Jamie Collins | 5 |
| 2016 | Vic Beasley, Bruce Irvin | 6 |
| 2017 | Yannick Ngakoue | 6 |
| 2018 | Dee Ford, JJ Watt | 7 |
| 2019 | Chandler Jones, TJ Watt | 8 |
| 2020 | Marlon Humphrey | 8 |
| 2021 | Shaquille Leonard | 8 |
| 2022 | Alex Highsmith, Haason Reddick | 5 |
| 2023 | Bradley Chubb, Antoine Winfield Jr. | 6 |
| 2024 | T.J. Watt | 6 |
FAQs on National Football League Annual Forced Fumbles Leaders
A. Robert Mathis has the most number of career forced fumbles in the NFL. He has recorded 52 forced fumbles (via Pro Football Reference).
A. T.J. Watt led the league in forced fumbles in the 2024 NFL season with six.
A. According to Pro Football Reference, Brett Favre leads the league with the most career fumbles ever (166).
