Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback, recently announced that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The revelation occurred during his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, which is investigating the improper use of welfare funds in Mississippi. As he faced lawmakers regarding the issue, Favre expressed feelings of being misled concerning the scandal, which has impacted his public image.
During his testimony, Favre discussed a personal financial loss he incurred as an investor in a company that was working on a promising concussion drug, Prevacus, which has since gone out of business. As he described his experience, he shared the news of his diagnosis. “I also lost an investment in a company that I believe was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others, and I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” he stated.
Favre, who appeared at the Little Rock Touchdown Club wearing a shirt that read “Everything Hurts,” was visibly slower in responding to questions and seemed to struggle with his thoughts during an interview on a local radio station.
Experts have increasingly focused on the long-term health effects of contact sports, particularly football, relating to conditions like Parkinson’s disease, which may stem from traumatic brain injuries. Favre’s 20-year career in the NFL, especially in the high-impact quarterback position, has exposed him to a significant number of hits. Known for his toughness, he famously never missed a game from 1993 to 2009, holding a record for consecutive starts.
In a 2022 interview, he mentioned suffering “thousands” of concussions during his career, based on current standards for defining such injuries. Favre, a three-time MVP and 11-time Pro Bowler, ranks high in NFL history for passing yards and touchdowns. However, he has battled an addiction to prescription painkillers, entering rehab three times during his football tenure. He revealed to audiences, including the one in Little Rock, that at his lowest point, he was taking 16 Vicodin nightly.
He recounted the depths of his addiction: “Sixteen pills is hard to swallow at one time, and I would throw up and would pick them up out of the throw-up. That’s what addiction can do to you.” Favre shared that despite his success, including winning three MVP awards consecutively, he recognized he was on a self-destructive path.
In addition to discussing his personal struggles, Favre mentioned his upcoming appearance in a documentary titled “Concussed: The American Dream,” which addresses concussions and their impact on NFL players. He emphasized the seriousness of concussions, stating, “They’re very serious, and yeah, we look at them differently today, but the same problems still exist.”
Despite these challenges, Favre expressed no regrets about his career. “I never tried to be something I wasn’t,” he reflected. “You live and learn from things, but for me, it all came down to I love playing… I love my teammates and love to compete with them.”