The question of whether Mark Gastineau deserves a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is back in the spotlight as the 1981 New York Jets are generating more buzz than their 2024 successors.

“I know that Mark was upset with Brett Favre,” Marty Lyons, Gastineau’s former Jets teammate, shared with YSL News Sports this week.

“I was present, and I told him, ‘Mark, you need to move on.’ But that wasn’t happening. … It’s just a record, and it’s been tied anyway by (Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker) T.J. Watt.

“It’s disheartening that Mark has carried this grudge for so many years. It has clearly been bothering him for ages—he couldn’t let it go. Did it really matter to him? Clearly, it did.”

An accomplished three-time All-Pro, Gastineau led the NFL in sacks in both 1983 (19 sacks) and 1984, when he set a record with 22 sacks. Strahan’s final total was 22½ after his controversial tackle of Favre, a number that Watt matched in 2021.

“You really hurt me. You hurt me, Brett,” Gastineau was heard saying during the video of their brief interaction, with Favre appearing slightly taken aback before being escorted away.

Favre offered his perspective in a longer social media message on Tuesday, implying that he supports Gastineau’s Hall of Fame candidacy.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark. I hope he one day joins me in the Hall of Fame,” Favre posted on X.

“He deserves it. Just look at his statistics.”

While Watt is almost guaranteed to join Favre and Strahan in Canton eventually, Gastineau—a five-time Pro Bowler with a total of 107½ career sacks (74 of those recognized officially after 1982)—is still without a bronze bust.

Should he be included?

“It’s a fair question. I’ve always thought that if you are truly exceptional, you don’t need to constantly promote yourself,” Lyons, who played with Gastineau from 1979 to ’88, remarked.

“Should Mark be in the Hall of Fame? Statistically, the answer is yes—though, to be honest, I’m not sure.

“Did he play purely for the sacks, or was he playing for the game and his teammates?”

This reflects just one aspect of Gastineau’s Hall of Fame debate. At 6’5″ and weighing 265 pounds, Gastineau was known for his incredible athleticism—admittedly enhanced by steroid use, common among NFL players in his time. He was an explosive talent who helped redefine the role of the modern edge rusher. However, he often received criticism for neglecting his defensive responsibilities or failing to adequately defend against the run while chasing quarterbacks.

This characteristic set Gastineau apart from another “Sack Exchange” member, Joe Klecko. Klecko, who achieved Pro Bowl status as a defensive end, defensive tackle, and nose tackle, recorded an unofficial 31 sacks across the 1980 and ’81 seasons while also dedicating much of his career to strengthening the team’s interior and performing essential tasks.

Klecko was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year after a lengthy waiting period of 35 years. Whether Gastineau will follow in his footsteps remains uncertain.

“I regard Mark as an exceptional defensive end, someone who could consistently reach the quarterback,” said Lyons.

“Was he limited in some aspects? Perhaps. Did he treat each play as a pass play? Possibly – but he was effective at getting to the quarterback.”

Lyons, who has been a longtime friend of Klecko, has had a complicated relationship with Gastineau—offering support during difficult times, including when Gastineau faced colorectal cancer, while also often clashing with him due to Gastineau’s various challenges on and off the field.

“I don’t dwell on the past,” Lyons stated. “I advised Mark, ‘There’s a saying: Your future happiness is often tied to your ability to let go of the past.’

“I genuinely wish Mark the best.”

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