Mark Gastineau

Mark Gastineau wore number 99 for the NFL’s New York Jets for almost a decade. Prior to his professional football career, Gastineau grew up in Oklahoma and Arizona, incurring a horrific incident in his childhood in which he broke a leg and was told by doctors that he may never walk again. Overcoming the odds, Gastineau liked to participate in rodeo events, as his childhood home was a ranch, and only played high school football due to his father’s urging. As a result of his late start to the game, Gastineau attended a junior college in Arizona in 1975 before transferring to Arizona State University and again to East Central University. He became East Central University’s first-ever draft pick when the New York Jets selected him in 1979. Throughout his nine seasons with the Jets, Gastineau was known for his outstanding number of sacks, leading the NFL for two consecutive years and setting a record of four sacks in a Pro Bowl. At his time of retirement from the NFL in the 1988 season, Gastineau was one to be admired as the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks.