Former New York Jets player Mark Gastineau has filed a lawsuit against ESPN regarding the broadcasting of a clip from a 2023 Chicago sports memorabilia show. In the clip, Gastineau confronted Brett Favre about allegedly giving Michael Strahan an easy sack to help break Gastineau’s single-season NFL sack record in 2002. The lawsuit, first reported by the New York Post, states that Gastineau is seeking $25 million in damages. He claims that the clip of the encounter, which went viral and was later featured in the ESPN documentary “The New York Sack Exchange,” was used without his consent, leading to him being subjected to ridicule, scorn, and contempt on social media.
Gastineau’s lawyer, Christopher J. Cassar, stated in an email to the Post that they intend to hold ESPN accountable for damaging Gastineau’s reputation for the sake of ratings. The clip shows Gastineau and Favre meeting at the memorabilia show, with Gastineau expressing his intention to reclaim his sack record. Favre responded with concern, leading to a heated exchange between the two.
Gastineau alleges that ESPN deliberately excluded footage of him and Favre shaking hands at the end of their encounter. His lawyer also mentioned that Gastineau was unaware of being filmed during the meeting and that he had approval rights over any changes made to the footage for the documentary.
Following the clip’s widespread circulation, Favre addressed the incident on social media, expressing his understanding of Gastineau’s feelings and acknowledging the physical toll of the sport they both played. Favre praised Gastineau’s achievements on the field and emphasized his respect for the former player, hoping that Gastineau would one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
