Brett Favre Reveals Shocking Parkinson’s Diagnosis After Thousands of NFL Concussions
Brett Favre shared on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The Hall of Fame quarterback revealed this information during a congressional hearing about federal welfare reform. He mentioned that, in addition to this, he had lost money in a company he believed was developing a concussion drug that could have made a difference. Favre, now 54, said, “It’s too late for me since I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but this cause still means a lot to me.”
Recently, Favre stated that he likely experienced “thousands” of concussions throughout his career. In 2021, he even advised parents not to let their kids play tackle football before age 14. He told OutKick just last month that his last play in the NFL resulted in a head injury.
In a 2022 interview on “The Bubba Army” radio show, Favre talked about how concussions were treated differently during his time in the league, noting that even mild symptoms, like flashes of light or ringing in the ears, were often overlooked, though they still counted as concussions.
Favre was at the hearing because of his connection to the 2020 Mississippi welfare scandal. While he hasn’t been criminally charged, the state is suing 38 individuals and companies to recover $24 million from a total of $77 million in misused federal welfare funds. Favre has denied knowing that a $5 million grant for a University of Southern Mississippi athletic facility came from welfare funds, specifically from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Favre spent the majority of his 20-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, though he was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and later played for the Jets and Vikings. He ended his career with 71,838 passing yards and 508 touchdowns, both ranking fourth all-time, though his 336 interceptions remain the most in NFL history.
Featured image: Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre warms up before the game between the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at M. M. Roberts Stadium. Favre played for Southern Miss. (Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)