2024-09-24

  • Faith: Christian - Catholic
  • Career: Athlete
  • Birthday:  October 10, 1969

Brett Favre is a former football quarterback who played in the NFL for 20 seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He has 321 consecutive starts from 1992 to 2010, including 297 regular season games, the most in league history. Favre was also the first NFL quarterback to obtain 70,000 yards, 10,000 passes, 6,000 completions, 500 touchdowns, and victories over all 32 teams.

Favre grew up in Kiln, Mississippi, a small town of about 2,000 people. He was the second of four children born to Irvin and Bonita Favre. His father was the head football coach at Hancock North Central High School, where Favre would begin his football career. Brett’s family was athletic, with football ingrained in their daily lives. Under his father's guidance, Favre developed a strong work ethic and learned the discipline and perseverance needed to succeed in sports.

Despite his future fame, Favre's early football career was far from stellar. At Hancock North Central, he played both baseball and football, but it was clear he had a special talent for the latter, especially with his powerful arm. However, Favre’s high school offense was run-heavy, giving him limited opportunities to showcase his passing skills. It wasn't until he joined the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) that his talents began to truly shine.

Favre received only one scholarship offer for football, which came from Southern Miss. Even then, the school envisioned him as a defensive back. Determined to play quarterback, Favre worked hard to prove himself and eventually earned the starting position. During his time at Southern Miss, Favre developed a reputation as a gunslinger. He would often take risks and throw the ball into tight windows, a style of play that would both elevate him to stardom and lead to criticism over his career.

In 1991, the Atlanta Falcons selected Favre in the second round of the NFL Draft, but his time there was brief and tumultuous. Head coach Jerry Glanville did not believe in Favre’s potential and rarely gave him the chance to play. After just one season and a single pass attempt (which was intercepted), the Falcons traded Favre to the Green Bay Packers in 1992—a move that would change the trajectory of his career.

Favre's trade to the Packers would prove to be one of the most important in NFL history. In Green Bay, Favre found the perfect setting to showcase his skills. His toughness, grit, and powerful throwing arm quickly endeared him to fans and teammates alike. In his first game as a Packer, Favre came off the bench to lead a comeback victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. It was a foreshadowing of the many heroics that would define his career.

During his 16-year tenure with the Packers, Favre transformed the franchise into perennial contenders. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, and was named the league's MVP three consecutive times from 1995 to 1997—a feat only matched by a few players in NFL history.

Favre's career with the Packers was highlighted by his toughness and durability. Known for playing through pain, he famously continued his streak of consecutive starts despite numerous injuries, including broken fingers, sprained ankles, and concussions. Favre set the NFL record for consecutive starts by a quarterback, which eventually reached 297 games (321 including playoffs), an incredible testament to his resilience.

Favre’s storied career is filled with remarkable achievements:

  • NFL MVP Awards (1995, 1996, 1997): Favre became the first player in NFL history to win three consecutive MVP awards. His combination of arm strength, leadership, and competitive spirit elevated him to elite status.
  • Super Bowl Champion (1997): Favre led the Packers to a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, securing the franchise's first championship in nearly 30 years.
  • Pro Bowl Appearances: Favre was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times, cementing his status as one of the league's top quarterbacks.
  • NFL Records: At the time of his retirement, Favre held multiple NFL records, including most career passing yards (71,838), most passing touchdowns (508), and most career victories by a quarterback (186). Many of these records have since been surpassed, but Favre’s place in NFL history remains secure.
  • Hall of Fame Induction (2016): Favre was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, a fitting tribute to a quarterback who had such a significant impact on the game.

Brett Favre has been married to Deanna Tynes since 1996. Their relationship dates back to their time together in Kiln, Mississippi, where they attended the same high school. The couple has two daughters, Brittany and Breleigh.

Deanna played an instrumental role in Brett's life, helping him navigate personal challenges, including his well-documented battle with addiction to painkillers. Favre has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction during the mid-1990s when injuries led to an increased reliance on medication. It was Deanna’s unwavering support that helped him seek help and eventually recover.

Their family has been through a lot together, from Brett’s roller-coaster football career to personal tragedies, such as the loss of his father in 2003. Favre famously played one of the most memorable games of his career the day after his father passed away, throwing for four touchdowns and over 300 yards in a Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders. His performance was a testament to his father’s influence and his deep sense of responsibility as both a player and a son.

In recent years, Brett Favre has been candid about the toll his football career took on his body and mind. Having played for two decades in one of the most physically demanding sports, Favre dealt with numerous injuries, including concussions. These health challenges became more evident post-retirement when Favre began experiencing memory loss and other cognitive issues.

In 2024, Favre publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This neurodegenerative disorder, which affects movement and coordination, is often associated with long-term head trauma.

What religion is Brett Favre?

Favre is a Roman Catholic and credits his faith to facing adversity throughout his life. During his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his wife, Deanna, presented him with the prestigious gold jacket and formally introduced him at the induction ceremony, the second NFL wife to do so. Favre said about the decision to have his wife participate, “Deanna is the best teammate I’ve ever had. She has been by my side throughout this journey, and I’m so excited that she gets to play such an important role for me.”

Deanna shared a story about how she and Favre found out she was pregnant at 19 while Favre was the starting quarterback at Southern Mississippi University, and they weren’t ready to be parents. She said her friends pressured her to get an abortion, but she refused. Deanna said it was she and Favre’s shared Catholic faith that ultimately convinced them not to have an abortion.She gave birth to their first daughter, Brittany. They remained together throughout Favre’s success in college and the NFL and got married in 1996 at the height of his career with the Green Bay Packers.


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