Mark Gastineau is upset with Brett Favre for his absence from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In the preview released on Tuesday for ESPN’s upcoming 30 for 30 documentary “New York Sack Exchange,” Gastineau, the former Jet and NFL single-season sack record holder, expresses his displeasure towards Favre for allegedly “taking a dive” when Michael Strahan broke his sack record in 2002.
During the Chicago Sports Spectacular event in 2023, Gastineau confronted the former Packers quarterback.
In the video, Favre extends his hand for a handshake, but Gastineau does not reciprocate and brings up the incident with Strahan.
“I want to get my sack back,” Gastineau repeats, leaving Favre shocked.
“You probably would hurt me,” Favre responds.
“Well, I don’t care. You hurt me,” Gastineau insists as Favre walks away bewildered by the encounter.
Gastineau, who is now 68, was present when Strahan broke the record on Jan. 6, 2002, in the 2001 season finale.
While he hugged Strahan that day, Gastineau has accused Favre of intentionally allowing Strahan to surpass his record of 22 sacks set in 1984.
Gastineau has been battling cancer and revealed in 2017 that he was diagnosed with “dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.”
“Do you know how long I have thought about not being in the Hall of Fame? A long time,” Gastineau shares in an interview featured in the trailer.
He adds, “The NFL should’ve intervened and said no, that wasn’t a sack. He took my record away from me. Favre took a dive… and everyone knows it.”
Although Favre denies taking a dive, Troy Aikman and other commentators pointed out the situation during the game.
“Rolls right and gets sacked by Michael Strahan,” Giants radio commentator Bob Papa mentioned. “Favre ran right into him. It almost looked like it was a designed play. They’re buddies. He faked the handoff, rolled right and then just slid down in front of Strahan.”
Favre admitted to being criticized by his offensive coordinator for the incident.
“I could care less if he got it or not,” Favre revealed in an interview.
In the trailer, Gastineau’s former teammates, including Abdul Salaam and Marty Lyons, label him a selfish player during his playing days.
“If you don’t want to admit you were selfish, then fine. That’s my opinion, you were selfish,” Lyons commented.
Since Strahan claimed the sack title, Steelers pass rusher TJ Watt equaled Strahan’s 22.5-sack mark in 2021, pushing Gastineau to the third spot in all-time sack leaders.
