Guide Note

Brett Favre is an NFL quarterback who was traded to the New York Jets after playing 16 consecutive NFL seasons for the Green Bay Packers.

Favre announced his retirement from football on March 4, 2008. In July 2008, he applied for reinstatement. The Packers organization, after having prepared throughout the previous months for former backup Aaron Rodgers to take over as starting quarterback, announced that Favre would have to take a secondary position if he were to return.¹ Favre was also offered a marketing deal, which would have paid him $20 million over 10 years, but would require him to stay retired and become an associate with the Packers organization.²

Despite these considerations, Favre decided to return to Green Bay for training camp with the Packers, initially desiring to compete for the starting quarterback position.^{3 4} On August 6, the New York Jets acquired Brett Favre for an undisclosed draft pick.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Brett Lorenzo Favre
2. Born: October 10, 1969 in Gulfport, Mississippi
3. Attended: University of Southern Mississippi]
4. Started every game since week 2 of the 1992 season
5. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection
6. Record for career completions (5,377)⁵
7. Record for consecutive games started (253)⁵
8. Won three MVP awards
9. Super Bowl XXXI champion
10. 61,665 career passing yards⁵
11. 442 career touchdowns⁵

Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Favre attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he was able to get a full scholarship to play quarterback. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, but coach Jerry Glanville refused to play Favre. A year later, he was traded to play as the second-string quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. In 1992, Favre, replaced starter Don Majkowski in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since that point, Favre did not miss a start for the rest of his career.⁶

As a starter, Favre racked up 61,655 passing yards, with a quarterback rating 85.7, and 442 touchdowns. Favre also won a championship at Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.⁷

Though Favre acknowledged that he was not "100% committed" to playing football when he retired in March of 2008, he expressed having had similar concerns in prior seasons. According to Favre's representation, he may have retired after being pressured by the Green Bay Packers to make a decision.¹

In a July 2008 interview with the FOX News Channel, Favre agreed he was "100% certain" that he wanted to play football again, even if he had to play for a team other than the Packers.⁸