Brett Favre, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback, revealed during a Congressional hearing on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This announcement came as he testified before the House Ways and Means Committee regarding allegations that he misused taxpayer funds.
Favre is facing accusations that he exploited political connections to divert public money to the University of Southern Mississippi, his alma mater, as well as for personal gain. “Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug that I thought would assist others. It’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” he told lawmakers. He also mentioned that the doctor associated with the company had pleaded guilty to misappropriating public funds.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder characterized by unintentional or uncontrollable movements. Symptoms, which can include tremors and difficulties with balance and coordination, tend to worsen over time, potentially leading to challenges with walking and speaking.
Research published last year in JAMA Network Open linked a history of playing football with an increased risk of self-reported Parkinson’s or parkinsonism. The study indicated that former football players with longer careers and higher levels of competition had a greater likelihood of developing such conditions.
Favre, who enjoyed a 20-season career in the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, appeared in Washington to clarify how he received funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Investigations revealed that he improperly received program money for speaking engagements that never occurred, as stated by a state auditor.
Furthermore, Favre is alleged to have leveraged his connections with former Governor Phil Bryant to advocate for TANF funds to be allocated for a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played. Although Favre has not faced criminal charges, he is in the process of repaying some of the funds. During his testimony, he maintained that he had done nothing wrong and only later discovered that the funds designated for his speaking engagements and volleyball were taxpayer dollars.