Although Quarterback sacks have always happened in football, the NFL didn't officially track them until 1982. The first labeled “sackmaster” of American football would have to be the flamboyant and somewhat controversial Mark Gastineau, who terrorized Quarterbacks; and not because he had sex with Brigitte Nielsen.
Mark Gastineau seemed built to terrorize gunslingers. It was what he was best at, and it could be assured that if the Jets were on the schedule, the opposing QB would have a sleepless night before the game. Gastineau twice led the league in the new official statistic and set a season record that Michael Strahan wouldn't break until 2001. As the sack became in vogue, Gastineau became synonymous with it, especially as he developed his “sack dance”.
For a four-year period, it was hard to argue that Mark Gastineau was not among the top three pass rushers in the NFL. Some have accused him of being too one-dimensional, and while he did rub some people the wrong way, he faces a long climb if he ever wants to see himself in Canton, though Joe Klecko's induction does help.
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