Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre revealed to a congressional committee on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Favre made this announcement during his testimony regarding a welfare misspending scandal in Mississippi.
Although Favre does not face criminal charges, he has repaid just over $1 million in speaking fees that were funded by a state welfare program. Additionally, Favre had invested in a biotech company linked to the case, which claimed it was developing concussion treatments. The former football star, now 54, informed the committee that he lost his investment in the company, believing it was working on a breakthrough drug for concussions that could benefit others.
“As I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me — I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s — this is also a cause dear to my heart,” Favre stated.
The origins of Parkinson’s disease remain unknown, and it is unclear whether Favre’s diagnosis is related to his football career or the numerous head injuries he sustained. In a 2022 radio interview, Favre estimated that he may have experienced “thousands” of concussions during his two-decade NFL tenure. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, scientists believe the disease stems from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which may include head injuries, pesticide exposure, or area of residence.
Favre is among the 90,000 individuals in the U.S. who will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease this year, as noted by Parkinson’s Foundation CEO John Lehr. In the 2022 interview, Favre acknowledged that he had initially underestimated the number of concussions he had endured, only to realize the figure was much higher once he learned more about the condition, including that concussions can occur without loss of consciousness.
During one notable incident in a 2004 game, Favre suffered a concussion but returned to play after sitting out only two plays. He then threw a touchdown pass without having been medically cleared.
Favre appeared before the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee to advocate for reforming the federal welfare system to better prevent fraud. “The challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years — because certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse, and are unjustifiably trying to blame me, those challenges have hurt my good name and are worse than anything I faced in football,” he said.
House Republicans have argued that the Mississippi scandal underscores the need for an overhaul of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Favre maintains that he provided services to the nonprofit that paid him with state funds, although the state auditor has reported that Favre did not attend the speaking engagements.
Favre has stated he was unaware that the payments he received were sourced from welfare funds. He also highlighted that his charity had donated millions of dollars to underprivileged children in his home state of Mississippi and in Wisconsin, where he spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Known for his durability, Favre set an NFL record with 297 consecutive starts, a figure that rises to 321 when playoff games are included. He won three consecutive MVP awards with the Packers from 1995 to 1997, leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in 1996 and returning to the Super Bowl the following year.
Favre played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007, as well as stints with the Atlanta Falcons (1991), New York Jets (2008), and Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010). By the time of his retirement in 2011, Favre held multiple NFL career passing records. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
