Brett Favre’s path to the Packers went through Atlanta. Packers general manager Ron Wolf had scouted Favre for the 1991 draft, and was going to pick him as GM of the New York Jets the year before, but was trumped by the Falcons one pick before. When Wolf came to Green Bay, he knew he wanted to get a quarterback he felt could take the Packers back to the Super Bowl, so he traded away a first round pick to get Favre.
Favre got his chance in week three of the 1992 season when Don Majkowski broke his ankle and Favre led the team to a comeback win against Cincinnati. Favre also started a consecutive games streak that would reach legendary proportions, playing through many injuries to start 297 straight regular season games.
It was Super Bowl XXXI that made Brett Favre a star, backing up his MVP awards with a title bringing the Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay. After going 13-3 in the regular season and winning the second of his three MVPs, Favre and a dominant defense led by Reggie White rolled through the playoffs, facing New England in New Orleans. Favre was great, hitting Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown on his first possession, running off the field holding his helmet aloft in a demonstration of youthful and spontaneous joy.
Favre finished the game going 14-27 for 246 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions in the biggest game of his career. He also scored a rushing touchdown, as he led the team to a 27-14 halftime lead. In the second half, defense and special teams, in the form of a 99-yard Desmond Howard kick-off return, sealed the deal. Though Howard was named MVP of the game, Favre was the emotional leader of an offense that took home the title just down the road from Kiln, Mississippi, his childhood home.
Brett Favre was often featured on FOX 11, including in the weekly show Inside the Huddle. Hosted by sports director Drew Smith with Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, Favre was on the show in 2003 and 2007. The first time, in 2003, was just after Brett had spent the afternoon in the dentist chair, but ever the gamer, he still appeared.
In September of 2007, right at the beginning of what would be a final season with the Packers and a run to the NFC Championship, the aging quarterback was just as excited about the team as he was as a young quarterback.
After an overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship following the 2007 season, Favre decided, for the first time, it was time to retire. In a tearful press conference, he said he felt he didn’t have anything left to give. However, the itch to play came back, and Favre arrived at camp hoping to come back to play. His arrival divided the fan base, with some wanting to welcome the quarterback back to the fold.
The Packers, however, had already moved on to Aaron Rodgers, and traded Favre’s rights to the New York Jets. After a year with the Jets, Favre retired again, before coming back for two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, returning to Lambeau to beat the Packers while wearing enemy purple. Favre finally retired for good after the 2010 season.
After Brett Favre spent seasons with the Jets and Vikings, many fans were wary of still backing the future Hall of Famer. In the summer of 2015 the Packers and Favre reconciled as the team inducted Favre into the Packers Hall of Fame in anticipation of his entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Favre addressed a packed Lambeau Field, full of fans who wanted to see their hero come home.
Favre’s jersey was retired that day, though his number wasn’t retired until Thanksgiving day at Lambeau Field later in the year. Favre’s name and number were installed on the facade in the north end zone of the stadium. The great Bart Starr, recovering from a series of strokes, was able to make it to the ceremony to honor Favre and his accomplishments.
Career Statistics | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YEAR | TEAM | G | ATT | COMP | PCT | YDS | TD | INT | RATING |
1991 | ATL | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
1992 | GB | 15 | 471 | 302 | 64.1 | 3,227 | 18 | 13 | 85.3 |
1993 | GB | 16 | 522 | 318 | 60.9 | 3,303 | 18 | 24 | 72.2 |
1994 | GB | 16 | 582 | 363 | 62.4 | 3,882 | 33 | 14 | 90.7 |
1995 | GB | 16 | 570 | 359 | 63.0 | 4,413 | 38 | 13 | 99.5 |
1996 | GB | 16 | 543 | 325 | 59.9 | 3,899 | 39 | 13 | 95.8 |
1997 | GB | 16 | 513 | 304 | 59.3 | 3,867 | 35 | 16 | 92.6 |
1998 | GB | 16 | 551 | 347 | 63.0 | 4,212 | 31 | 23 | 87.8 |
1999 | GB | 16 | 595 | 341 | 57.3 | 4,091 | 22 | 13 | 85.3 |
2000 | GB | 16 | 580 | 338 | 58.3 | 3,812 | 20 | 16 | 78.0 |
2001 | GB | 16 | 580 | 338 | 58.3 | 3,812 | 20 | 16 | 78.0 |
2002 | GB | 16 | 551 | 341 | 61.9 | 3,658 | 27 | 16 | 85.6 |
2003 | GB | 16 | 471 | 308 | 65.4 | 3,361 | 32 | 21 | 90.4 |
2004 | GB | 16 | 540 | 346 | 64.1 | 4,088 | 30 | 17 | 92.4 |
2005 | GB | 16 | 607 | 372 | 61.3 | 3,881 | 20 | 29 | 70.9 |
2006 | GB | 16 | 613 | 343 | 56.0 | 3,885 | 18 | 18 | 72.7 |
2007 | GB | 16 | 535 | 356 | 66.4 | 4,155 | 28 | 15 | 95.7 |
2008 | NYJ | 16 | 522 | 343 | 65.7 | 3,372 | 22 | 22 | 81.0 |
2009 | MIN | 16 | 531 | 363 | 68.4 | 4,202 | 33 | 7 | 107.2 |
2010 | MIN | 13 | 358 | 217 | 60.6 | 2,509 | 11 | 19 | 69.6 |
TOTAL | 302 | 10,169 | 6,300 | 62.0 | 71,838 | 508 | 336 | 86.0 |