Mark Gastineau

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Full Name: Marcus D. Gastineau Primary Position: DE/DT/LB Height/Weight: 6' 5"/270 College: East Central University, Eastern Arizona JC, Arizona State University Birthdate: November 20, 1956 High School: Round Valley (Eagar, AZ) Birthplace: Ardmore, Oklahoma Pro Experience: 10 years

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Mark Gastineau (Marcus D. Gastineau) was born on November 20, 1956 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. After going to high school at Round Valley (Eagar, AZ), Gastineau attended Arizona State University, East Central University and Eastern Arizona JC. Gastineau made his professional debut in the NFL in 1979 with the New York Jets. He played for the New York Jets for his entire 10 year career. Gastineau was pushed hard by his father into sports in his teens. A body builder in high school, Gastineau developed into an impressive raw athlete who flirted with track and field and boxing, but did best on the gridiron. Not strong academically, but clearly a bonafide football prospect, Gastineau bounced around colleges until settling at NE Central OK State. Against less-than-first tier college competition, Gastineau blossomed as a defensive lineman, catching the eye of the rebuilding New York Jets, who had already picked Joe Klecko and were about to pick Marty Lyons. Gastineau would soon join these other young bulls to set up ' The New York Sack Exchange '. Abdul Salaam ( Larry Kent ) would complete the foursome. 6' 5 and 280 pounds on arrival, Gastineau was a tremendous athlete who ran a 4.55 40-yard-dash. He started almost immediately for the Jets. Underrated versus the run, Gastineau saw his opportunity as a pass rusher. Since the Jets had Joe Klecko drawing double-teams inside, Mark often went one-on-one against big, slow tackles who could not handle his combination of quicks, speed and power. The sack also gave Gastineau his sought-after individual stage, in which his 'Sack Dance' placed him alone in victory before the cameras. While other NFLers struggle with New York City's media glare, Gastineau excelled. He love the limelight, loved the city and became the team's biggest star since Joe Namath. Teammates were concerned with Gastineau's transformation from football talent to self-absorbed star. While the Jets did contend for playoff spots in the early 1980s, Gastineau brought more attention to the catagory of 'sacks' than any player ever before him. He was credited with holding the NFL's official record at 22, which stood for years. Ever the individual, Gastineau stood out on his own as much as possible. He dated and married bombshell actress Brigitte Nielsen. He crossed the picket line during the NFL Strike, angering many, to keep his salary coming in. He competed in The Superstars, and won the event multiple times. Wife Linda was a popular sight early on, but Gastineau was an unbelievable cheat, and she later divorced him, taking a good amount of cash in the process. Gastineau later stripped himself down to 255 to regain lost quickness after a knee injury. The lost power made him an average NFL DE. The last straw for the Jets was his sudden retirement in his final year. Gastineau believed a movie career was in the offing. It wasn't for him or Nielsen at that point. Gastineau did try his hand at professional boxing, with a career laced with thrown wins. His career may have been the most inflated ever. But Gastineau wasn't especially skilled, chin-tough, or quick. A few brutal KO losses ended that career as well. It is said that Gastineau became involved in sports betting, and later spent time in prison. This brought the former star to his low point in the 1990s. Since his release, Gastineau has become a born-again Christian, working with old teammate Lyons to right his life.

Most people believe that 1984 was Mark Gastineau's best year, as he recorded 22 sacks and ran back a fumble for a touchdown.

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• Won the Pro Bowl MVP in 1984
• Won the UPI AFL-AFC Defensive MVP in 1984

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