Judge Dismisses Mark Gastineau's $25M Lawsuit Against ESPN Over Favre Confrontation

A federal judge dismissed former New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau’s $25 million lawsuit against ESPN and NFL Films.

The suit stemmed from a December 2024 viral clip of Gastineau confronting Brett Favre at a memorabilia event in 2023. Gastineau accused Favre of taking a 'dive' during Michael Strahan’s record-breaking sack in the 2001 season finale - a play that broke Gastineau’s single-season sack record.

Gastineau claimed he never consented to filming or broadcast of the exchange and alleged social media ridicule followed its release. But Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled Gastineau had signed a broad written release authorizing use of his name and likeness - including footage of the Favre encounter - in ESPN’s '30 for 30' documentary 'The New York Sack Exchange.'

Favre publicly acknowledged the moment was awkward, saying he ‘ducked down’ as the game ended and had no intent to harm Gastineau’s legacy. He called the confrontation ‘not the kind of moment that should be filmed and released.’