It appears Mark Gastineau is blaming Brett Favre for not being in the Hall of Fame.
Favre came face to face with the former Jet and one-time NFL single-season sack record holder, who is still mad at the ex-Packer for “taking a dive” as Michael Strahan broke his sack record in 2002.
While at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in 2023, Gastineau confronted Favre while filming the upcoming “The Next York Sack Exchange” 30 for 30 documentary with ESPN.
Favre extends his hand for a handshake, which is not reciprocated by the Jets legend.
“How are you doing,” Favre asks, which is also ignored by Gastineau, who says, “When you fell down for him [Strahan].”
“I want to get my sack back,” Gastineau says twice, as Favre looks in shock.
“You probably would hurt me,” Favre responds.
“Well, I don’t care, you hurt me,” Gastineau says multiple times as Favre walks away bewildered by the interaction.
Gastineau, 68, was in attendance for Strahan breaking the record in the 2001 season finale on Jan. 6, 2002 and accused Favre of taking a dive so his friend and the star player could claim the record.
The former member of the famed “New York Sack Exchange” set the record in 1984 with 22 sacks.
Gastineau has battled cancer and dementia among other health issues in recent years.
“Do you know how long I have thought about [not being in the Hall of Fame]? A long time,” Gastineau says while previewing the documentary.
He added: “The NFL should’ve stopped that and said no, that wasn’t a sack. He took my record away from me. Anybody will tell you that Favre took a dive … and everybody knows it.”
Favre has denied taking a dive in the past despite Troy Aikman saying that “[Strahan] got a gimme.”
“Rolls right and gets sacked by Michael Strahan,” Giants longtime radio commentator Bob Papa said on the broadcast. “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 said he was “chewed out” by offensive coordinator Mike Sherman after the game for that play.
“I could care less if he got it or not,” Favre said on #10Questions with Kyle Brandt in 2021.
As Gastineau called out Favre, his ex-teammates, including Abdul Salaam and Marty Lyons, call him a selfish player in his heyday during the trailer.
“If you don’t want to admit you were selfish, then fine. That’s my opinion, you were selfish,” Lyons said.
In the years since Strahan claiming the official sack title, Gastineau saw himself get moved down into a tie for third on the single-season list when Steelers pass rusher TJ Watt tied Strahan’s 22.5-sack mark in 2021.
