Ex-NFL star publicly breaks down and cries, begs Goodell for help
In a heart-wrenching interview on WOR Radio in New York, former New York Jets All-Pro defensive lineman Mark Gastineau broke down and cried when describing his mental and physical deterioration.
The 61-year-old Gastineau, speaking to host Pete McCarthy this week, pleaded with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for help.
Heartbreaking interview with Mark Gastineau last night. Glad it's generating some attention for the many retired NFL players caught in a legal stalemate with the NFL: https://t.co/TMoRtNHX2K
— Pete McCarthy (@thePeteyMac) March 9, 2018
“My brain … is not the same,” said Gastineau — who was accompanied in the studio by his wife JoAnn and his lawyer Jason Luckasevic.
“I was just like thinking, I gotta remember, I gotta remember, Roger Goodell, Roger Goodell. That’s not right. It’s not right. And I haven’t been that way my whole life. I haven’t been that way. … I wasn’t that way.”
Gastineau was a three-time First-Team All-Pro who played 10 seasons for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. He was part of the Jets’ famed New York Sack Exchange, along with Joe Klecko, Abdul Salaam and Marty Lyons. He had 107.5 career sacks, including 19 in 1983 — when he was named Defensive Player of the Year — and 22 more in 1984.
But with his career long over, Gastineau’s quality of life has deteriorated.
“My wife — OK — she and I used to go around and do yard work. But you know what, she does everything now for me,” he said, breaking down in tears.
“I swear to God, my church, and everything. I thank God, I thank God I have the Lord in my life,” said Gastineau, growing more emotional as he spoke, “because I’ll tell you Pete, it’s not good, it’s not good. When I’m laying in bed until 3, 4, 5 (in the morning) it’s not good. And yet, there’ll be days I get up and I’m good “
“I’ll you Pete, my wife … she helps me get out of bed … and she’ll help me remember names,” Gastineau said. “I used to think I was all that, but you know what Pete, I was nothing. You know why? Because of what happened to me.”
In January, Gastineau announced that he is suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, according to the New York Daily News.
Gastineau is currently a plaintiff in a concussion lawsuit against the NFL, but has not yet gotten any money, The Associated Press reported. NFL doctors first questioned Gastineau’s dementia diagnosis, but finally approved it in October.
However, the NFL sent a notice to Gastineau’s lawyer 30 days later saying it was appealing the settlement for the former Jet’s Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“The NFL is wrong,” Gastineau said. “The NFL is wrong, they’re wrong. I’m not telling them to give me zillions of dollars. I don’t want zillions of dollars. I just want to be treated with respect.”
“I want the NFL to treat people right,” he added. “They have to. The commissioner has to. He told me, he (said), ‘Listen Mark … you need anything, let me know.'”
“Hey Roger Goodell, treat people right,” said Gastineau. “I want to hold you to your promise, Roger Goodell,” he added. “You said, ‘Anything I need!’ I want the players to be treated right.”
The AP reached out to the NFL for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Gastineau is now an ambassador for USA Football and its Heads Up Football program, which teaches kids how to practice and play safer football.
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