In a recent video released by ESPN ahead of their upcoming documentary, “The New York Sack Exchange,” Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre regarding a controversial moment that affected Gastineau’s legacy in the NFL. During the final week of the 2001 season, Michael Strahan broke Gastineau’s long-standing single-season sack record under contentious circumstances.

On that fateful play, Favre, playing quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, slid to the ground just as Strahan approached, allowing Strahan to be credited with the sack that put him at 22.5 for the season, thus eclipsing Gastineau’s record of 22.0 set in 1984. While Gastineau had previously congratulated Strahan publicly at that time, he later expressed deep frustration about how Strahan achieved the record.

In the clip from the memorabilia show, Gastineau approached Favre with a serious demeanor, stating, ‘You hurt me. You hurt me, Brett,’ addressing the play that has haunted him for years. He further demanded, ‘I’m gonna get my sack back, dude.’

Gastineau argued that the NFL should have invalidated Strahan’s record-breaking sack, implying that it was more of a gift than a legitimate play, saying, ‘The NFL should have stopped that.’ This sentiment speaks to a lingering sense of injustice felt by many regarding the integrity of the record.

Even though at the time the play occurred, Gastineau did maintain a professional attitude, it appears the emotions tied to the incident have simmered for over two decades. The new footnote in the ongoing conversation about sack records may add to the intriguing narrative surrounding this controversial play. As the discussion continues, it also brings to light the circumstances surrounding other players who have chased or equaled Gastineau’s once-impervious record, such as Jared Allen and T.J. Watt, who both would best it in recent years.

ESPN’s documentary premiere on December 13 is highly anticipated, and it promises to delve deeper into the dynamics of the ‘New York Sack Exchange’ and the players who defined that iconic defensive unit. Gastineau’s confrontation of Favre is likely just a taste of the fireworks to come in this exploration of football history and legacy.