It’s never a dull day around the New York Jets.
ESPN is preparing to release a 30 for 30 documentary on the New York Sack Exchange (premiering December 13) and gave us a sneak peek on Tuesday. On X, ESPN tweeted a clip showing former Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau in a tense meeting with Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre.
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For two players that never faced each other, the tension may seem surprising to some. For Jets fans, however, the reason for Gastineau’s frustration is clear.
Back in 2002, Giants defensive end Michael Strahan was half a sack from breaking Gastineau’s single-season sack record (22.5) when he faced the Favre-led Packers in the final game of the season. With less than three minutes left, Favre ducked down to avoid being hit by Strahan, giving him the NFL record which stands to this day.
For Favre, it was merely avoiding a hit as he prepared for the playoffs. For Gastineau, however, it helped end his legacy as he still seeks proper recognition for his impact. Gastineau is yet to be voted into the Hall of Fame despite five Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro appearances, and three seasons of 19+ sacks.
Following the viral spread of the tense meeting, Favre took to X to clear the air.
In the thread, Favre apologized for his role in Gastineau losing the sack record and admitted that it may have “crossed my mind to help Strahan.”
“I booted out of a run thinking it would be wide open, saw Strahan standing there and ducked down. The game was over. There was no need for me to do anything spectacular. It probably wasn’t Michael’s best sack or tackle for loss. In a different game or situation, I would have made a bigger effort to avoid the sack or TFL. But at no point was I thinking about hurting Gastineau. Maybe it crossed my mind to help Strahan. I didn’t think it through. That wasn’t my forte at the time. I just wanted to have fun and compete. In retrospect, I understand how Gastineau feels. We played a brutal game. Gastineau played during an era where guys didn’t make generational wealth.”
Favre stated that he “was in no way trying to hurt Mark Gastineau,” and “was trying to close out a game and squeeze the last bit of fun out of a hard-fought game.”
The one-time Jets quarterback acknowledged the impact of the play on Gastineau’s legacy, stating, “I see now how being the Sack King would elevate his value at card shows, strengthen his case for the Hall of Fame, increase his demand as a public speaker. I had no way of knowing that then. I realize now the potential financial implications because football is far more business-oriented than when me or Mark played.”
Favre continued to state his respect for Gastineau as a player and person, then pushed for Gastineau to be in the Hall of Fame.
“I hope one day he joins me in the Hall of Fame. He earned it. Look at his numbers. He eclipsed 20 sacks twice and had 19 another year!”.
It’s hard for any Jets fan to argue with Favre on this one.
Gastineau was one of the most dominant pass-rushers of the 80’s and one of the greatest of all time. From 1980-1985, Gastineau racked up 92 sacks and became the first player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks in consecutive seasons.
Outside of his individual achievements, he was the most recognizable player on the New York Sack Exchange. The dominance of this Jets defensive line helped make sacks an official NFL statistic.
However, Joe Klecko is the only player from that group who has been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, making it in 2023. While it gave legitimacy to one of the NFL’s greatest units, Gastineau belongs beside him. Hopefully, Klecko’s inclusion and ESPN’s documentary help get eyes on a well-deserving star.
