Mark Gastineau

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Lore & Background

Gastineau entered Eastern Arizona Junior College in 1975 and earned All-America honors in his first season. He transferred to Arizona State University for one season before settling at East Central Oklahoma State University (now East Central University) in Ada, Oklahoma. He had 27 quarterback sacks in his college career and earned Outstanding Defensive Lineman honors for the North in the 1979 Senior Bowl. He became ECU's first-ever draft pick when the Jets selected him in the second round of the 1979 NFL draft. Connie Carberg, the first female NFL scout, helped discover Gastineau; she called several prospects and suggested him as a replacement for a Senior Bowl vacancy based on a phone conversation. He was projected as an eighth-round pick but was selected in the second round after his Senior Bowl performance. In New York, Gastineau was a key part of the 'New York Sack Exchange' defensive line with Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam. The four combined for 66 sacks in 1981, including 20 by Gastineau (unofficial), leading the Jets to their first playoff game since 1969. In November 1981, they were invited to ring the ceremonial opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, which served as the inspiration for their nickname. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, after Klecko's injury, Gastineau became the unofficial leader of the Sack Exchange, finishing with six sacks and being voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year (George Halas Trophy). In 1983, Gastineau and rookie quarterback Ken O'Brien were arrested and charged with assault at Studio 54; despite this, Gastineau totaled 19 sacks to lead the NFL. His signature 'Sack Dance' was banned by the NFL in March 1984 as 'unsportsmanlike taunting,' stemming from a bench-clearing brawl on September 25, 1983, after a sack of Vince Ferragamo; Gastineau was fined $1,000. In 1984, he set an NFL record with 22 sacks (leading the NFL for the second straight year), 69 tackles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. He was voted UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year and named MVP of that season's Pro Bowl after tallying four sacks and a safety. His sack record stood for 17 years until Michael Strahan broke it in 2001. In 1985, under new defensive coordinator Bud Carson's 3-4 defense, Gastineau shifted to right defensive end, broke his hand early in the season, but finished second in the league with 13½ sacks. The Jets

In Their Own Story

The 1986 divisional playoff game against the Cleveland Browns remains a defining, yet painful, moment in Gastineau's career. Late in the fourth quarter with the Jets leading 20–10, Gastineau was called for a roughing the passer penalty on quarterback Bernie Kosar during what appeared to be an incomplete pass. Instead of facing a 3rd-and-24, the penalty gave the Browns a first down at their own 33-yard line. The Browns drove 67 yards for a touchdown and later tied the game with a field goal by Mark Moseley, eventually winning in double overtime. Gastineau insisted he was 'just following through,' while teammate Marty Lyons defended him against referee Ben Dreith, claiming he was known to protect quarterbacks too well. Earlier that season, injuries had limited Gastineau to just two sacks in ten games due to groin, abdominal, and knee ailments requiring arthroscopic surgery. Despite the loss, his postseason performance included a sack against the Kansas City Chiefs and 2½ more against the Browns.

Reader's Guide

Gastineau finished his ten-year career with 74 officially recorded sacks (sacks were not an official stat for the first three years of his career). He made the Pro Bowl five straight seasons (1981–1985). He was First-team All-Pro in 1982–1984 and consensus All-AFC in each of those years. He was second-team All-Pro in 1981 and consensus All-AFC that year. In 1984, he set the single-season sack record with 22 sacks. He was named MVP of the 1984 Pro Bowl (played in January 1985) with four sacks and a safety. Sacks were not an official statistic until 1982.

Did You Know?

• Gastineau was the first player to lead the NFL in sacks in consecutive seasons (1983 and 1984).
• His 20 sacks in 1981 are considered unofficial because sacks were not an official stat until 1982.
• The 'New York Sack Exchange' nickname originated from the four players ringing the ceremonial opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in November 1981.
• Gastineau's signature 'Sack Dance' was banned by the NFL in March 1984 after a bench-clearing brawl on September 25, 1983.
• He was named MVP of the 1984 Pro Bowl after recording four sacks and a safety.