Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback, disclosed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease while testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee regarding the misuse of welfare funds in Mississippi. This announcement added to the scrutiny surrounding the scandal that has affected his reputation, which he claims he was misled into being a part of.
During his testimony, Favre expressed his disappointment over a financial loss linked to his investment in a company’s potential concussion drug, which is no longer in operation. He emphasized that the timing of his diagnosis makes it especially poignant. “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’s recent appearance at the Little Rock Touchdown Club showcased him wearing a t-shirt that read “Everything Hurts.” He exhibited a slower response to questions during this event and had difficulty articulating his thoughts during a subsequent radio interview.
The connection between contact sports, like football, and long-term neurological effects has been increasingly acknowledged in recent years, with Parkinson’s disease being among the conditions linked to traumatic brain injuries. Having played 20 seasons as a quarterback, Favre faced numerous tackles, and his legacy as a tough player put him at an elevated risk for such injuries. He notably did not miss a game from 1993 to 2009, setting a record for consecutive starts.
In a 2022 interview, Favre estimated that he suffered from “thousands” of concussions during his time in the NFL. A highly decorated player, he is a three-time MVP and an 11-time Pro Bowler, ranking fourth in NFL history for passing yards and touchdowns. However, he has struggled with addiction to prescription painkillers, a battle he has openly discussed, stating he reached a point where he would take as many as 16 Vicodin nightly.
During his remarks in Little Rock, Favre also touched on his participation in an upcoming documentary titled “Concussed: The American Dream,” which explores the issue of concussions in football. He stressed the seriousness of concussions and acknowledged that while public perception may have evolved, the underlying problems persist.
Despite the challenges he faces, Favre told the audience he has 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. That’s what I grew up doing. I love my teammates and love to compete with them, compete against them, the battle part of it, but at the end of the day, I was just doing what I loved, and people appreciated it.”