Brett Favre, the legendary Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl championship in 1997, disclosed during Congressional testimony on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The 54-year-old Favre made this announcement while speaking before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, which was holding a hearing focused on welfare accountability and reform.
Favre has been at the center of controversy since 2020 over the alleged misuse of public welfare funds in Mississippi, his home state. Audits have shown that public money meant for families in need was diverted to pay Favre and support projects of his choosing, including the construction of a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played. The funds were also used for an investment in a pharmaceutical company called Prevacus, which claimed it was developing a drug for concussion treatment.
During his testimony, Favre stated, “I thought it would help others… It was too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.” He maintains that he was unaware the funds were designated for welfare purposes. Although he has not faced criminal charges related to the issue, he has filed a defamation lawsuit against state officials in Mississippi.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that leads to symptoms such as tremors, balance problems, and difficulties with speech and movement. There is currently no cure, and the condition typically worsens over time.
Research has shown a connection between Parkinson’s and other brain disorders, like dementia, as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in many former NFL players. Favre indicated in a 2018 interview that he had suffered “three or four” concussions during his NFL career, which lasted from 1991 to 2010. However, he later realized that advancements in concussion research suggested he may have experienced many more. “When you have ringing in the ears, seeing stars — that’s a concussion. And if that is a concussion, I’ve had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening,” he expressed at that time.