Mark Gastineau and Brett Favre's Tense Confrontation Spotlighted in ESPN Documentary
Former New York Jets defensive standout Mark Gastineau, who has harbored resentment toward Hall of Famer Brett Favre for over two decades, finally confronted the quarterback at a memorabilia event in 2023. Gastineau accused Favre of purposefully taking a sack that allowed Michael Strahan to surpass Gastineau's long-held NFL single-season sack record in 2001.
The tense exchange, captured on video, is a focal point of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary, The New York Sack Exchange, which airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. The film examines the rise and fall of the Jets' formidable 1980s defensive line, including Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam.
The Encounter
Gastineau, attending the Chicago memorabilia show alongside former teammates Lyons and Salaam, approached Favre while the retired Packers star was signing autographs. After a brief handshake and pleasantries, Gastineau quickly turned the conversation confrontational.
"Yeah, right—when you fell down for him," Gastineau snapped, referencing Strahan. "I'm going to get my sack back. You hurt me, Brett."
Favre, visibly confused, responded, "You probably would hurt me."
Gastineau retorted, "Well, I don't care. You hurt me!" The heated moment ended when Favre's handlers escorted him away, leaving Gastineau fuming.
A Controversial Sack
Gastineau's frustration stems from the 2001 incident when Favre seemingly went down easily, granting Strahan the record-breaking 22.5 sacks in a single season. Gastineau’s mark of 22 sacks, set in 1984, had stood for 17 years. Though Gastineau congratulated Strahan at the time, he later voiced his belief that the play was staged, calling it a "trash sack" in interviews.
"Anybody will tell you that Brett Favre took a dive," Gastineau insists in the documentary.
Team Tensions and Unresolved Anger
Lyons, present at the event, attempted to dissuade Gastineau from confronting Favre, warning, "Let it go, Mark. It happened years ago." Despite this, Gastineau couldn’t suppress his frustration. His wife, Jo Ann, later returned to Favre's table to apologize for her husband's behavior.
The documentary delves into Gastineau's polarizing personality and his often-strained relationships with his teammates. It also explores the legacy of the "Sack Exchange" and its impact on NFL history.
Strahan and the Record
Michael Strahan, who shared the record until T.J. Watt matched it in 2021, has also expressed mixed feelings about the controversial play. "I caught so much flak over it," Strahan said in a 2013 documentary. "It's not worth it because everyone questions that one sack."
Gastineau's Legacy
Despite his bitterness, Gastineau remains a key figure in NFL history, celebrated for his dominant pass-rushing during the 1980s. The documentary offers a candid look at his career, his struggles, and the enduring sting of losing his record under dubious circumstances.
The New York Sack Exchange provides an unfiltered glimpse into the lives of one of football's most iconic defensive units and the drama that still lingers decades later.
