More than 20 years ago, a single sack changed NFL history and sparked a rivalry that has simmered ever since. Mark Gastineau, the ferocious New York Jets defensive end who once owned the NFL sack record, watched helplessly as Michael Strahan broke his long-standing mark by sacking Brett Favre in the final game of the 2001 season. What should have been a celebrated milestone instead ignited a decades-long dispute, fueled by Gastineau’s belief that Favre “took a dive” to help Strahan break the record.
Mark Gastineau: The sack King before Strahan
Mark Gastineau was a formidable force on the gridiron throughout the 1980s. Drafted by the New York Jets in 1979, Gastineau quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. He set the single-season sack record with 22 in 1984 — a mark that stood for 17 years. Over his ten-year career with the Jets, Gastineau racked up 107.5 sacks, a staggering total at the time, earning him five Pro Bowl appearances and a revered place in Jets lore. In 2012, the Jets honored Gastineau’s legacy by inducting him into their Ring of Honor, symbolized by a green jacket and a special ring, cementing his status as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
For years, Gastineau believed his record and accomplishments would secure him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — a distinction that has so far eluded him. The frustration of seeing his record broken, combined with lingering doubts about the legitimacy of that defining sack, has haunted Gastineau ever since.
The record-breaking sack that sparked controversy
Michael Strahan, a defensive end for the New York Giants, approached the 2001 season with the goal of surpassing Gastineau’s legendary mark. Throughout the season, Strahan demonstrated relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks, culminating in a final-game showdown against the Green Bay Packers, led by none other than Brett Favre.
Late in the fourth quarter, Strahan recorded his 22.5th sack on Favre, officially breaking Gastineau’s long-standing record. The moment was celebrated by fans and commentators alike — including an announcer who remarked on Favre’s supportive demeanor during the sack.
However, the sack itself has been mired in controversy ever since. Gastineau publicly questioned the authenticity of the play, alleging that Favre “took a dive” to let Strahan achieve the record. “The NFL should have stopped that, and said, ‘Listen, that’s not a sack,’” Gastineau said during ESPN’s documentary. He has claimed that this questionable moment robbed him not only of his record but also of a rightful spot in the Hall of Fame.
Strahan, meanwhile, expressed pride in his achievement despite the skepticism. In the NFL Network’s documentary A Football Life, he emphasized the difficulty of maintaining such a high sack total over 13 games, challenging critics to break the record if they doubted his merit.
Decades long tensions culminate in confrontation
More than 20 years later, emotions around the record remain raw. Gastineau’s frustration culminated in a face-to-face encounter with Brett Favre at a memorabilia show in Chicago in 2023. The interaction was captured for ESPN’s documentary, showing Gastineau confronting Favre with intense emotion. “You fell down for him,” Gastineau told Favre, accusing the former Packers quarterback of deliberately allowing the sack. “I’m going to get my sack back, dude.” Favre responded calmly, “You probably would hurt me.” Gastineau shot back, “Well, I don’t care. You hurt me. You hurt me! You hear me? You really hurt me. You hurt me, Brett.”
Later, Gastineau’s wife apologized for her husband’s outburst, explaining that it was a private moment of frustration. Gastineau also revealed plans to confront Strahan but hinted that forgiveness might be on the horizon. “The thing that you have to do, you have to forgive,” Gastineau reflected in the documentary, suggesting the possibility of closing this chapter — or at least, coming to terms with it.
Brett Favre’s perspective: Respect and regret
In December 2024, after ESPN highlighted the “small dustup” with Gastineau, Brett Favre took to social media to clarify his side of the story. He emphasized that his intent during that final sack was not to harm Gastineau or the record but simply to finish a tough game.
“Back in 2002, when Michael Strahan sacked me at the end of a game, I was in no way trying to hurt Mark Gastineau,” Favre wrote. “I was trying to close out a game and squeeze the last bit of fun out of a hard-fought game.”
Favre admitted that the sack wasn’t his best effort and that, under different circumstances, he might have tried harder to avoid it. However, he acknowledged that helping Strahan may have crossed his mind — a thought he confessed was not fully considered at the time.
Despite the controversy, Favre expressed sympathy for Gastineau’s feelings and supported his candidacy for the Hall of Fame. “I have a great deal of respect for Mark. I hope one day he joins me in the Hall of Fame.”
The Legacy of a sack: What it means for NFL history
The Gastineau-Favre-Strahan saga encapsulates more than just a record — it reveals the intense passion, pride, and personal stakes wrapped up in professional sports. It also shows how moments that seem small on the surface can have lasting emotional impact.
For Gastineau, the record was a symbol of his identity, career, and legacy. Losing it under controversial circumstances turned into a personal wound that never fully healed. For Favre and Strahan, the sack was part of the game’s drama — a fleeting moment that became part of NFL lore.
Today, as documentaries revisit the story and fans revisit their own memories, the conversation about fairness, legacy, and respect continues. Whether the rivalry will ever truly resolve, the story of the 2002 sack remains a defining chapter in the NFL’s rich history.
