Why Do Mark Gastineau and Brett Favre Have Beef? All About the 2002 Sack That Caused Decades-Long Tension Between the Former NFL Stars

Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau and legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre have been at loggerheads since 2002.

Gastineau held the NFL sack record from 1984 to 2001 — an accomplishment he coveted and believed would earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame. However, after nearly two decades, New York Giants star Michael Strahan succeeded Gastineau when he fired Favre in a January 2002 game between the Giants and the Green Bay Packers.

After Gastineau watched Strahan record 22.5 sacks in one season, he congratulated him on the achievement, but in the years since, Gastineau has said he believes Farve helped Strahan break his long-standing record.

Recently, Gastineau aired his grievances on ESPN 30 for 30 a documentary entitled New York Stock Exchangewhich premiered on December 13. The former defensive lineman believes Favre “dived” so Strahan could easily hit the milestone in the final game of the 2001 regular season.

Gastineau’s long-held grudge against Favre came to a head in 2023 when he confronted the Hall of Famer at a memorabilia show in Chicago.

“I’m going to get my sack,” Gastineau said in a preview of the documentary that ESPN aired on X. “You hurt me, Brett.”

So what really happened between Marc Gastineau and Brett Favre over 20 years ago? Here’s everything there is to know about the decades-long rift among NFL players — and why they’re still talking about it today.

Mark Gastineau held the NFL sack record for 17 years

Mark Gastineau playing for the New York Jets in 1986.

Focus on Sport/Getty

Gastineau first earned the title of NFL sack leader in 1983 with 19 sacks. He held the distinction in 1984 with a record 22 sacks in a single season, according to The Athletic.

He spent his entire professional football career with the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988 — and appeared in five Pro Bowls. After a total of 144 games (regular and postseason), Gastineau, No. 99, retired with an incredible 107.5 recorded sacks, per the Jets.

In 2012, the athlete was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor, where he was presented with a green jacket and a special ring.

Michael Strahan broke Mark Gastineau’s record in 2002

Mark Gastineau hugs Michael Strahan after breaking the sack record in 2002.

Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archives via Getty

Former New York Giants defensive end Strahan broke Gastineau’s sack record in January 2002. It was the final game of the 2001 regular season and late in the fourth quarter of the Giants-Packers game when Strahan sacked Favre and racked up 22.5 sacks. in one season.

“Nobody wanted Michael to get it more than Brett, and he just showed it,” the announcer could be heard saying during tape of the 2002 game, which was shown in New York Stock Exchange.

As Gastineau congratulated Strahan on the field after his record-breaking sack, Gastineau went on to share his thoughts on what happened in that moment, which seemingly overshadowed the highlight of Strahan’s career.

In 2013, the athlete-turned-TV personality broke his silence and addressed how the public had “downplayed” his achievement.

“Everybody looks like that one sack they’re questioning is the defining moment of my career. I didn’t have a sack in the first three weeks of the season. So from four weeks on, 13 games, 22.5 sacks … it’s hard to compare,” he said. is Strahan in the NFL Network documentary titled Football life.

He continued: “I’ve never talked about it like this because I’ve always kind of taken it, but I always have to say, ‘If you don’t like it, then break it.’ That’s it.”

Mark Gastineau believes Brett Favre “dived” so Strahan could break the sack record

New York Giants Michael Strahan fired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre on January 6, 2002.

Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archives via Getty

Gastineau claimed that Favre intentionally “dive” in order to break Strahan’s 2002 sack record.

“The NFL should have stopped that, and said, ‘Listen, that’s not a sack.’ [Favre] took away my record,” he said during an interview with ESPN New York Stock Exchange.

The former athlete also believes that losing the record to Strahan cost him a place in the NFL Hall of Fame.

“Everybody asks me why aren’t you in the Hall of Fame? Do you know how long I’ve been thinking about it,” said Gastineau. “I don’t know why.

Mark Gastineau faced Brett Favre in 2023 regarding the record game

Brett Favre and Mark Gastineau on ESPN’s ’30 for 30: Sack Swap in New York’.

ESPN

In 2023, more than two decades after Strahan broke the sack record, Gastineau faced Favre at a memorabilia show in Chicago. The tense exchange was caught on camera for the documentary New York Stock Exchange and split ESPN on X.

“You fell for him,” Gastineau told the former quarterback, referring to the historic moment on the field in 2002. “I’m gonna get my sack back. I’m gonna get my sack back, man.”

Favre replied, “You’d probably hurt me.” The former Jets player fired back, saying, “Well, I don’t care. You hurt me. You hurt me! Do you hear me? You really hurt me. You hurt me, Brett.”

According to ESPN, Gastineau’s wife, Jo Ann Gastineau, apologized to Favre later that day and said her husband didn’t mean anything by his comments. The publication also spoke with Gastineau, who said he has plans to confront Strahan as well.

“I wanted to let him know it was a trash bag,” he said of his brief interaction with Favre. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time — many, many years. I’ve only got one other guy to go to.”

However, Gastineau is emotional 30 for 30 the interview suggests he might back off from talking to Strahan.

“What you have to do, you have to forgive,” he added.

Brett Favre defended himself on social media in December 2024

Former NFL running back Brett Farve is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the halftime ceremony during the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on October 16, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Hannah Foslien/Getty

Following ESPN’s announcement of a “little dust-up” between Gastineau and Favre, the former Packers quarterback took to X to “clear the air.”

In a lengthy post, he wrote: “Back in 2002, when Michael Strahan fired me at the end of the game, I was in no way trying to hurt Mark Gastineau. I was trying to close out the game and squeeze every last bit of fun out of a tough game.”

“It probably wasn’t Michael’s best sack. In another game or situation, I would have tried harder to avoid the sack,” Favre continued. “But at no point did I think about hurting Gastineau. I might have thought of helping Strahan. I didn’t think it through. That wasn’t my strong point at the time.”

He continued to sympathize with Gastineau and advocate for his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

“Looking back, I understand how Gastineau feels,” Favre added. “A while ago he saw me playing cards and got his frustration out of his chest. It’s not a moment that should be recorded and published. It was a private moment of frustration between two old football warriors. I have great respect for Marko, I hope that one days to join the Hall of Fame.”

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