Brett Favre tries to “clear the air” with Mark Gastineau over viral, year-long NFL feud

Brett Favre spoke about his interaction with Mark Gastineau in 2023, which will be featured in ESPN’s upcoming documentary. The New York Bag Exchange.

In the sports documentary about the first four defensive lines of the NFL’s New York Jets in the 1980s, Gastineau confronts Favre about losing his single-season sack record, which Michael Strahan broke in 2001 after a tackle on Favre. Marty Lyons, Joe Klecko and the late Abdul Salaam are the other three members of the Sack Exchange.

In a clip shared by ESPN, Gastineau can be seen talking about his 1984 record of 22 sacks in a single season. A sack occurs when the quarterback or other passer is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw the football.

In the 2001 game between the Giants and Green Bay Packers, quarterback Favre appeared to fall, allowing Strahan to make the sack and break the record with 22.5 sacks. This record is now tied with current Pittsburgh Steelers player TJ Watt.

After Strahan broke the record, Favre was one of the many who congratulated the defensive end. Last year, Favre and Gastineau discussed the moment at a remembrance event, where Gastineau accused Favre of intentionally falling in order to intentionally lose his record.

“When you fell in love with (Strahan),” the former Jets player told Favre, “I’m going to get my sack back. I’m going to get my sack back, dude.”

“You would probably hurt me,” Favre replied.

“Well, I don’t care,” Gastineau said. “You hurt me. You hurt me! Do you hear me?”

“Yes, I understand you,” Favre said.

“You really hurt me. You hurt me, Brett,” Gastineau said before Favre was led away by someone at the event.

In the documentary’s teaser clip, Gastineau further explains his point by saying, “Everyone will tell you Brett Favre took a leap.”

The former NFL quarterback has since addressed the allegations in a thread on X (formerly Twitter). “I would like to clear the air on footage released showing a minor argument between myself and former New York Jet Mark Gastineau,” he wrote.

Favre stated that he was “in no way trying to hurt Gastineau” and wanted to finish the final game of the season while “squeezing the last bit of fun out of a hard-fought game.”

He said he thought he was “open” but saw Strahan and ducked without actually trying to avoid the sack because “the game was over.” “In a different game or situation, I would have made greater efforts to avoid the sack or TFL,” he wrote.

The former Minnesota Vikings QB admitted that it might have “crossed his mind” to help Strahan, but it wasn’t out of a need to hurt Gastineau and he just wanted to have fun.

“I now see how the role of Sack King would increase his value at card shows, strengthen his case for the Hall of Fame and increase his demand as a public speaker,” he continued.

“I couldn’t have known that at the time. I am now aware of the potential financial impact because football is far more business-oriented than when me or Mark played.”

Favre said the moment between the two should not have been filmed or published because it was “a private moment of frustration.”

He then listed Gastineau’s accolades, such as reaching over 20 sacks in a single season twice. “I hope he joins me in the Hall of Fame one day,” he concluded.

The New York Bag Exchange airs December 13th at 8pm ET on ESPN and will be available to stream on ESPN+ following the premiere.