Brett Favre is a National Football League quarterback who has spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Favre has been the subject of discussion between 2008 and 2010 after retiring several times, but later changing his mind and returning to the league.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

In 2010, he became the subject of an investigation into his alleged sending of inappropriate text messages and nude photos of himself to Jenn Sterger when both were employed by the New York Jets in 2008.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5965863 On December 29, 2010, the National Football League announced that it would fine Favre $50,000 for failure to cooperate with the investigation.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5965863

Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Favre attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he was able to get a full scholarship to play quarterback.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/ 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.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/ In 1992, Favre, replaced starter Don Majkowsk in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since that point, Favre did not miss a start for the rest of his career and went on to win Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

Following a short retirement in 2008, Favre returned to the field as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets following a trade from the Packers. During the season, he notched new career-best records, including for the most touchdowns in a single game, at six. Ultimately, the Jets finished the season with a 9-7 record and did not qualify for the NFL Playoffs.http://www.nfl.com/players/brettfavre/gamelogs?id=FAV540222&season=2008

Favre announced a second retirement after the 2008 season, but soon changed his mind a second time, signing with the Minnesota Vikings on August 18, 2009. He led the Vikings deep into the playoffs, however they fell in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints.http://www.nfl.com/players/gamelogs?id=FAV540222

From 1992-2007, Brett Favre was the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, leading them to two Super Bowl appearances and winning Super Bowl XXXI. He started every Packers game from September 20, 1992, to January 20, 2008.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/ In 1995, Favre had a quarterback rating of 99.5 with the Green Bay Packers. His only higher quarterback rating was in the 2009 season at 107.2 while playing for the Minnesota Vikings.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

In Super Bowl XXXI, Favre threw for two touchdowns while completing 14 of 27 passes for 246 total yards. His first touchdown pass was for 54 yards, his second was an 81 yard pass that was at that time a Super Bowl record.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/ In his NFL career, Favre has thrown for over 70,000 yards, scored over 500 touchdowns, and with 297 consecutive starts, he holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback.http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

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.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3483521 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.http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/123297

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.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3517219 On August 6, 2008, the New York Jets acquired Brett Favre via trade in exchange for performance-based draft picks. http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

In December of 2008, a source close to the Jets said Favre had a partial tear of the biceps tendon, which could require minor surgery.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800421 In January of 2009, Favre reportedly told Jets management that "it may be time to look in a different direction," leading to speculation that he would retire againhttp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3808669

On February 11, 2009, ESPN reported that Favre had made the decision to retire, telling his agent to tell the Jets he would not return for a second season with the team.'http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3898942 This changed months later when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings to play for the 2009 season. http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/bio/

In August 2010, many news outlets including ESPN reported that Favre told the Minnesota Vikings that he would not return for the 2010 season as recovery from off-season surgery was not progressing to his liking. These reports were later disputed with ESPN's Ed Werder stating that Favre told him personally that he would play if he was healthy, but ultimately had not made a decision either way. In an attempt to convince Favre to return for 2010, the Minnesota Vikings reportedly offered Favre a salary increase which would allow him to earn a possible $20 million for the season.http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5436231

A few weeks after the initial reports that Favre would not return, sources at Fox Sports.com reported that Favre told three Vikings players - Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Ryan Longwell- that he would come back for the 2010 NFL Season. He flew to Minnesota on August 17, 2010 and met with the players in person to discuss his future with the team.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/news/story?id=5470904 Prior to the trip to Minnesota, the three players were excused from their preseason game practice in order to travel to Mississippi and lobby for Favre's return. Favre's official website announced that visitors should "stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre's possible return."http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/tag/_/name/favre-81710