A long-standing grudge between former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau and Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre will be exposed in the upcoming ESPN documentary The New York Sack Exchange. The film, part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, captures a tense confrontation between the two football legends that took place at a memorabilia show last year, nearly two decades after the events that sparked the rift.
The Confrontation
Gastineau, known for his fiery personality, confronted Favre at a Chicago memorabilia event, accusing him of deliberately taking a sack that prevented Gastineau from holding onto the NFL’s single-season sack record. The moment was tense and uncomfortable, and the exchange was filmed for the documentary, set to premiere on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
The encounter occurred when Gastineau, accompanied by fellow members of the iconic Sack Exchange defensive line, approached Favre, who was signing autographs at his booth. After a brief handshake, Gastineau made his feelings known, referencing the infamous sack of Favre by Michael Strahan that allowed the latter to break Gastineau’s record.
Gastineau confronted Favre with a biting remark: “Yeah, right — when you fell down for him,” referring to Strahan’s controversial record-breaking sack. “I’m going to get my sack back. I’m going to get my sack back, dude.”
Favre, clearly caught off guard, tried to lighten the tension but was met with an aggressive response from Gastineau. “You hurt me. You hurt me! You hear me?” Gastineau shouted, before Favre was escorted away by his handler. Gastineau, miked up for the documentary, did not hold back, expressing years of pent-up frustration.
The Sack That Changed Everything
The incident Gastineau referred to happened during the final game of the 2001 NFL season. Strahan, then a defensive end for the New York Giants, broke Gastineau’s longstanding record of 22 sacks with a controversial sack of Favre. Many believed Favre intentionally went down on the play to allow Strahan to set the new record at 22.5 sacks.
Gastineau was present for Strahan’s record-breaking moment but kept his emotions in check, even congratulating Strahan on the achievement. However, in a 2020 interview with ESPN, Gastineau openly questioned the integrity of the sack, and his feelings about the incident have only grown stronger over time. He continues to maintain that Favre took a dive to assist Strahan.
In the documentary, Gastineau goes further: “Anybody will tell you that Brett Favre took a dive,” he says, reiterating his belief that the sack was intentional.
The Roots of the Feud
Gastineau’s anger over the sack has festered for years, and he finally confronted Favre in person to express his frustration. “I wanted to let him know it was a trash sack,” Gastineau explained in the documentary. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time — many, many years.”
At the time of the confrontation, Gastineau didn’t know Favre would be at the memorabilia event until he and his wife, Jo Ann, saw his name on the guest list. Despite warnings from his former teammate, Joe Klecko, Gastineau couldn’t let go of the bitterness. Klecko tried to convince him to avoid the confrontation, saying, “Mark, let it go, just let it go. That happened years ago.” But Gastineau, visibly determined, wasn’t ready to forgive or forget.
Later, Jo Ann Gastineau returned to Favre’s table to smooth things over, apologizing for her husband’s outburst. She explained that Gastineau “didn’t mean anything by it,” but the damage had already been done.
The Aftermath and Strahan’s Perspective
For Strahan, the sack record has always been somewhat bittersweet. Although it was a landmark achievement, he has expressed discomfort over the way it was obtained. In a 2013 NFL Network documentary, Strahan shared his frustrations about the controversial nature of the sack, saying, “I almost feel like in a sense it was diminished because everyone goes, ‘Oh, Brett Favre gave you a sack.’” Strahan, however, chose to focus on his career rather than the criticism.
The sack record remained Strahan’s alone until 2021, when Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt matched the 22.5 sacks in a single season, reigniting debates about the record’s legitimacy.
Favre Responds
On the eve of the documentary’s release, Favre addressed the confrontation in a social media post, describing it as a “small dustup” between him and Gastineau. He clarified that there was no malice intended in his actions and that the sack was not taken with the goal of helping Strahan break the record.
Reflecting on the incident, Favre acknowledged that the record could have had financial and career implications for Gastineau. “A while back, he saw me at a card show and got his frustration off his chest,” Favre said. “It was not the kind of moment that should be filmed and released. It was a private moment of frustration between two old football warriors.”
Despite the tension, Favre expressed his respect for Gastineau and endorsed his candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I hope this controversy brings attention to just how great Mark Gastineau was. He belongs in Canton,” Favre concluded.
A Legacy of Rivalries and Redemption
The documentary The New York Sack Exchange will not only explore the contentious relationship between Gastineau and Favre but also dive into the rise and fall of the Sack Exchange—the formidable defensive line that terrorized quarterbacks during the early 1980s. The film delves into the complex dynamics between Gastineau and his fellow linemen, including Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and the late Abdul Salaam.
The 30 for 30 documentary offers an in-depth look at the powerful personalities and the unresolved tensions that have defined the legacy of the Sack Exchange. As the documentary airs, fans will gain new insight into the extraordinary and often turbulent world of NFL defensive football and the players who shaped its history.
Final Thoughts
As the documentary reveals, the anger and bitterness surrounding the sack record are far from over for Mark Gastineau, and his confrontation with Brett Favre was just one chapter in a long-standing rivalry. Whether or not the tension will ever fully dissipate remains to be seen, but The New York Sack Exchange offers a fascinating glimpse into the fierce world of professional football—and the personal rivalries that often define it.
