Brett Favre Talks Viral Exchange With Mark Gastineau About Michael Strahan Sack

Nearly 23 years after Michael Strahan controversially defeated Brett Favre on January 6, 2022, breaking the NFL single-season sack record, former New York Jets star Michael Gastineau expressed his displeasure.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Green Bay Packers’ 34-25 victory that fateful day, Favre surrendered to Strahan, who forced him to a record-setting 22.5 sacks for the year. Many thought Favre made it too easy for Strahan to break the record, including Gastineau, who told Favre at a memorabilia exhibition in 2023 that he had “hurt” him by doing so.

Shortly after, ESPN released the clip of their conversation to provide a preview of the upcoming event 30 for 30 Project titled The New York Bag ExchangeFavre took to social media to give his side of the story.

“I was in no way trying to hurt Mark Gastineau,” Favre wrote. “I was trying to finish a game and squeeze every last bit of fun out of a hard-fought game.”

Favre further wrote that he only asked for a fake piece because he thought it was open. Strahan, however, beat his man and was there to take him down.

“In a different game or situation, I would have made greater efforts to avoid the sack or TFL,” Favre wrote. “But at no point did I think about hurting Gastineau. Maybe it occurred to me to help Strahan. I didn’t think about it all the way through. That wasn’t my strength back then.”

“I just wanted to have fun and compete. Looking back, I understand how Gastineau feels.

Strahan still holds the record with 22.5, although Pittsburgh Steelers star TJ Watt tied him in 2021. Two other players — Jared Allen in 2011 and Justin Houston in 2014 — tied Gastineau with 22 sacks.