Gang Green somehow keeps discovering new ways to disappoint their fans.
The New York Jets abruptly pulled the plug on a Long Island superfan’s dream — canceling her chance to kick a halftime field goal for $100,000 over a little-known technicality buried in the rulebook.
Ashley Castanio-Gervasi, a heartbroken season ticketholder who attends Jets games in honor of her late father, was told Monday by the 3–12 NFL team that she was barred from the final round of the “Kick for Cash” contest — simply because she’s a high school soccer coach.
Castanio-Gervasi said the decision blindsided her. The team had personally invited her to compete after seeing her kick at a September tailgate — and at no point mentioned any rule barring coaches, even after she told them she had played Division I college soccer.
Castanio-Gervasi said her opportunity was taken away the moment the team discovered she serves as head coach of the Long Beach High School girls’ soccer team. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
“This is life-changing money for me,” Castanio-Gervasi fumed to FaqInsurances. “I was confident I could have made it."
“This was the first time I was hearing of any of these [coaching] questions.”
A former Stony Brook University goalkeeper from 2010 to 2014, the 33-year-old said her path to the contest began when Jets representatives noticed her powerful kicks in the fan zone outside MetLife Stadium before a September game. They invited her to try to qualify in October, she said, without once asking whether she coached.
She later earned her shot at the big money during this week’s Jets–Patriots game at MetLife Stadium, drilling a 20-yard field goal in the fan zone during the October qualifying round.
Since qualifying, she’s been casually knocking through 25-yard kicks in warmups with the Long Beach High School girls’ soccer team she leads.
She felt fully prepared to kick. Then, in a gut-punch moment straight out of a “Peanuts” cartoon, the Jets abruptly told her she was no longer eligible to take part in the final contest for the six-figure prize.
Castanio-Gervasi, who teaches math, said she was contacted by Jets staff last week to review the rules and go over the contest details. Like the other three finalists, she was supposed to sign an affidavit, she said.
It was then she learned that the rules excluded recent players and coaches from Olympic, college, and high school soccer, rugby, and football programs.
When FaqInsurances reached out, the team confirmed it would not reverse its decision.
Castanio-Gervasi goes to Jets games to honor her late father, a devoted lifelong fan of the team. Obtained by the NY Post
"In accordance with competition rules and regulations, one individual who successfully made the qualifying kick will not be able to advance to the final stage of the challenge," the team said in a statement to FaqInsuranes.
"We understand the disappointment associated with this and have made an effort to provide an alternative benefit to show our appreciation," the Jets statement added.
But for the would-be kicker and long-suffering Jets fan, this might be the organization’s most botched field-goal moment in years.
The Jets said rescinding her eligibility was simply a matter of following the rules. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
Castanio-Gervasi caught the Jets’ attention when she landed a casual kick at a September Jets–Bills tailgate outside the stadium — and they quickly recruited her.
Castanio-Gervasi was a member of the women’s soccer team at Stony Brook University. Obtained by the NY Post
“These two workers for the New York Jets kind of chased me down and invited me back to get into this competition,” she recalled. “The one question I was asked was if I played college soccer, and how long ago.”
A month later, they had her return for the qualifying kick outside the stadium during the Jets–Panthers game. The former Division I athlete impressed everyone by nailing a field goal in front of a camera crew, becoming the only woman to advance to the final round.
Jets officials had promoted Castanio-Gervasi’s participation and coordinated with local media, resulting in her hometown paper, the Long Island Herald, covering the story earlier this month.
Castanio-Gervasi stood out as the only woman to reach the final stage of the event. Obtained by the NY Post
The Dec. 12 story highlighted in its second paragraph that she is the varsity coach of the Long Beach Mariners.
Kicked While Down: Jets Pull the Plug on Superfan’s Dream
For Castanio-Gervasi, who has cheered for the Jets with unwavering loyalty since childhood, this is yet another heartbreak.
She recalled catching passes from former Jets QBs Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington at Jets training camp at Hofstra University as a child.
Her dad, Frank, nurtured Castanio-Gervasi’s love of football, hoping she would carry on his passion, until he passed away from esophageal cancer in 2011.
Castanio-Gervasi recalled catching passes from former Jets QBs Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington at Jets training camp at Hofstra University when she was a child. Obtained by the NY Post
“My dad and grandpa held season tickets since Shea Stadium,” she said, revealing that her family has spent roughly $1 million supporting the Jets over the years.
“So growing up, obviously, in our household, our family, it was what we did on Sundays…He bleeds green, and that’s why we do.”
When she nailed the October kick, Castanio-Gervasi was cheered on by about 75 family members and friends.
She said they attended as part of an annual game for the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation, which has raised a total of $50,000 in loving memory of her father, Frank.
When she nailed the October kick, Castanio-Gervasi was cheered on by about 75 family members and friends. Obtained by the NY Post
Castanio-Gervasi said her father, Frank, would have been “freaking out” to hear she had the opportunity to take the field, speaking before the disappointing news arrived.
“He was always so proud of us in all areas of our lives, but especially sports,” she said. “He was super proud of me playing soccer…unfortunately, he didn’t get to see a lot of my success.”
Since losing their devoted Jets fan father, Castanio-Gervasi and her three sisters—Lauren, Courtney, and Jaclyn—have taken turns bringing their mom, Lorraine, to games in Frank’s place.
Castanio-Gervasi and her sisters—Lauren, Courtney, and Jaclyn—took turns bringing their mom, Lorraine, to games in their father Frank’s place. Obtained by the NY Post
Castanio-Gervasi and her husband, Matthew, carried on the family legacy this season, securing season tickets two rows behind their other 200-level seats at a cost of nearly $3,000.
“Win or lose with the Jets, it’s a really big thing,” said Castanio-Gervasi, who travels to away games as well. “It brings my family together.”
"At least 15 family and friends bought tickets to see Castanio-Gervasi kick this Sunday," she said. The Jets have offered to cover the costs as a gesture of goodwill.
"At least 15 family and friends bought tickets to see Castanio-Gervasi kick this Sunday," she said. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
But Castanio-Gervasi, who had renewed her season tickets just weeks earlier, said her family sold their tickets in a show of solidarity—including her mom, who rarely misses a game.
Castanio-Gervasi was initially offered a custom consolation jersey and a $100 Visa gift card, but she plans to skip the game in protest—the first home game she’s missed in a decade.
She said that if her father Frank were still alive, he would without a doubt ditch his season tickets over the incident.
Castanio-Gervasi said that if she had successfully made the kick—before being cut—the prize money would have gone toward buying her first home and supporting the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation.
The Jets said the franchise would make a donation to support the medical cause.
“The whole thing is extremely upsetting,” said Castanio-Gervasi. “Me and my whole family are let down.”
