NY Jets Great Mark Gastineau Sues ESPN for $25 Million Over Viral Video of Brett Favre Confrontation

ESPN

New York Jets great Mark Gastineau filed a lawsuit against ESPN for airing a clip of him confronting ex-NFL QB Brett Favre in a documentary.

In December 2024, ESPN teased the release of its 30 for 30 documentary The New York Sack Exchange. The documentary focused on nickname for a defensive line group that played for the Jets and went by the same name.

At one point in the documentary, Gastineau confronted Favre at an event. Gastineau took issue with the way Favre took a sack against retired New York Giants legend Michael Strahan, giving Strahan the NFL’s single-season sack record — which was previously owned by Gastineau.

On the play, Strahan shed a block and ran right at Favre. Seemingly sensing the inevitability of the situation, Favre fell down to avoid a big hit. Because Favre and Strahan were friends, it led some to believe Favre simply did his friend a favor and practically handed him the record.

In the lawsuit, which was obtained by The New York Post, Gastineau claimed his portrayal in the documentary was “maliciously false.” He’s seeking $25 million in damages. Additionally, he argued that the clip was used by ESPN without his consent and that he’s been “attacked on social media with ridicule, scorn and contempt.”

The lawsuit also claimed that the clip featured in the documentary was edited. In the clip, Favre reached out for a handshake but was left hanging by Gastineau. According to the lawsuit, the interaction actually did begin with a handshake before what was shown.

“During this private encounter November 18, 2023 between Mark Gastineau and Brett Favre, Gastineau was visibly upset and emotional with Favre,” the lawsuit said, “however both Mark Gastineau and Brett Favre shook hands at the commencement of this conversation.”