“A grown man asking another grown man for the ‘sack back’…” That’s one of the comments under ESPN’s teaser for their upcoming ’30-on-30′ documentary: The New York Sack-Exchange! Winter of ’02 (on the 6th of January), Mark Gastineau was watching from the sidelines as Michael Strahan broke his record of most sacks in the singles season by bringing the already-falling Brett Favre to the ground. Strahan tipped Gastineau’s record of 22 sacks to 22.5 as the commentators said: “That was a gimme from Favre to Strahan.”

Indeed, it was… Gastineau didn’t have to remind anyone about that. But fast-forward to 2023 at a Chicago autograph convention, he did not miss the chance of taking issues directly with Favre: “You hurt me, Brett. You hurt me.” The moment had clearly left him scarred. Gastineau had held the single-season sack record of 22 from 1984 until Strahan’s sack of Favre on 6 January 2002. Had Favre not been sacked,  Gastineau would have held the record for another 21 seasons with T.J. Watt tying his mark with 22.5 sacks in 2022.

Hence, Gastineau’s feelings are understandable… But the question is: did losing the record cost Gastineau a significant amount of money on the autograph circuit?

See, it may have cost him the Hall of Fame as he reminisced about what could have have been. But as for the money aspect, well, autograph agent Ryan Fiterman thinks otherwise. “I don’t believe he is a ‘wow’ name at all,” he said, “I don’t think it would have affected his marketability too much.”

Now, let’s talk dollars. Gastineau’s autographs go for $39 on a mini helmet or $69 on full-size memorabilia. For context, that’s pocket change compared to legends like Joe Namath or Tom Brady. Even with his “Sack Exchange” crew—Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam—signatures max out around $600.

The consensus? Not being in the Hall of Fame hurt his value more than losing the sack record. Sports marketing agent Ben Litvin doubled down on Gastineau’s marketability or a lack thereof. “I have represented Eric Dickerson for 25 years, and the percentage of autographs where he signs that he’s the single-season rushing leader or ‘2,105 yards’ is probably less than 5%,” Litvin said. “Not getting into the Hall of Fame cost (Gastineau) more, and that half of a sack didn’t do it.”

Meanwhile, Bobby Mintz of Tri-Star agreed that losing the record did cost Gastineau some money, but “it’s hard to quantify” how much

So, did that half-a-sack truly sack Gastineau’s legacy? Maybe, but not entirely. His most valuable card, a 1986 Topps in pristine condition, sold for $399 in 2014—a respectable figure. But not exactly worth as much as it could have had he walked the Canton. Does it, ultimately, come down to that Brett Favre dive? Some can say so. But Favre has his own take on the whole issue.

Brett Favre ‘clears the air’

Mark Gastineau, the once-mighty Sack King of the 1980s, is still feeling the sting from 2002. And who’s in the hot seat? Brett Favre, Hall of Fame QB. Gastineau did not mince his words while accusing Favre of taking a dive to gift Michael Strahan the single-season sack record. That infamous play gave Strahan 22.5 sacks, edging out Gastineau’s 22. Talk about a bitter pill to swallow.

But now, according to Favre, he wasn’t out to hurt Gastineau’s legacy—or his wallet. Taking to Instagram Favre said, “I booted out of a run thinking it would be wide open, saw Strahan standing there, and ducked down.” Favre even admitted, “Maybe it crossed my mind to help Strahan. I didn’t think it through.” That’s like fumbling on the 1-yard line—intentional or not, the damage was done.

Gastineau’s frustration makes sense when you dig into the numbers. The guy eclipsed 20 sacks twice and hit 19 in another season. He wasn’t just a great pass rusher; he was a force. Add that to his impact as the face of the New York Sack Exchange, and you’ve got a player who should’ve had his gold jacket years ago. Favre gets it now, saying, “I see how being the Sack King would elevate his value… strengthen his case for the Hall of Fame.”

But here’s the kicker: Favre genuinely respects Gastineau. He called him “a great guy and a fun teammate” and ended with a hopeful Hail Mary, saying, “I hope this controversy brings attention to just how great Mark Gastineau was. He belongs in Canton.” That’s Favre tossing a metaphorical touchdown in Gastineau’s direction.

Let’s break it down: Mark Gastineau wasn’t just a sack artist; he was a phenomenon. From 1981 to 1985, he racked up a jaw-dropping 74 sacks, the most by any player over that five-year span. For context, that’s more than Hall of Famers like Reggie White or Bruce Smith managed in any comparable stretch.

He hit the 20-sack mark twice, including his record-setting 22-sack season in 1984, something only a handful of players in NFL history have done. Plus, Gastineau was a two-time NFL sacks leader and a five-time Pro Bowler. Gastineau’s electric play helped the Jets defense dominate, leading them to back-to-back playoff appearances in the mid-’80s. If those numbers don’t scream “Canton material,” what does? As for the documentary… well, do have your popcorn with you because it will be some ride!