Age: 26 (Nov.
20)
4th
season in pro football & with Jets
College: East
Central Oklahoma State
Height: 6’5” Weight: 269
Prelude:
Gastineau
transferred from Arizona State to East Central Oklahoma State and was credited
with 27 sacks and 200 tackles in two seasons, garnering NAIA All-American
honors in 1978. He was chosen by the Jets in the second round of the ’79 NFL
draft and, a raw talent, was primarily a reserve member of a young defensive
line as a rookie. Gastineau moved into the starting lineup in 1980 and was
unofficially credited with 11.5 sacks. The unofficial sack total rose to 20 in
’81. His teammate, DE Joe Klecko, had 20.5 and overall the Jets recorded 66
sacks in easily leading the NFL. The defensive line, which also included
tackles Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam, was christened “the New York Sack
Exchange” and Gastineau was selected to the Pro Bowl as well as receiving
first-team All-AFC honors. Individual sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
1982 Season Summary
Appeared in all
9 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 6 [16,
tied with five others]
Most sacks,
game – 2.5 at Miami 12/18
Multi-sack
games – 1
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Postseason: 3 G
Sacks – 4
Most sacks,
game – 2 at Miami, AFC Championship
Interceptions
– 0
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Jets went 6-3
in the strike-shortened season and were sixth seed in the AFC playoff
tournament that replaced the usual postseason format. Won First Round playoff
over Cincinnati Bengals (44-17) & Second Round playoff over Los Angeles
Raiders (17-14). Lost AFC Championship to Miami Dolphins (14-0).
Aftermath:
Known for his
flamboyant sack celebrations, Gastineau followed up by leading the NFL in each
of the next two seasons, with 19 sacks in 1983 and 22 in ’84, a record that
stood until 2001. He again received first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition
in each of those seasons. Hobbled by injuries in 1985, Gastineau still
accumulated 13.5 sacks and was chosen to a fifth straight Pro Bowl. He missed
six games due to injuries in 1986, accumulated only 4.5 sacks in ’87, and after
getting off to a strong start in 1988, abruptly retired halfway through the
year. An abortive comeback with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL ended
after four games of the 1990 season. Overall in the NFL, Gastineau officially
accumulated 74 sacks. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice twice,
received at least some first- or second-team honors after three other seasons,
and was selected to five Pro Bowls.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC since
1970
