Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback, recently disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This announcement came during his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, which is investigating the misuse of welfare funds in Mississippi. The hearing has drawn significant attention, particularly with Favre involved, as he faces scrutiny over a scandal that has impacted his public image. Favre has claimed he was misled into participating in the scheme.
During his testimony, Favre mentioned his personal financial loss related to an investment in a now-defunct company, Prevacus, which was believed to be developing a breakthrough concussion medication. He stated, “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.”
Favre appeared at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in a t-shirt stating “Everything Hurts” and showed signs of difficulty in responding to questions, which raised concerns about his condition. He also participated in a radio interview where he exhibited similar struggles in articulating his thoughts.
The issue of neurological health in contact sports, particularly football, has gained increased focus among medical experts in recent years. Parkinson’s disease is one of several conditions linked to traumatic brain injury, which athletes in high-impact sports are at greater risk of developing. Favre’s extensive career as a quarterback involved taking numerous hits, and he notable retained an ironman streak of consecutive games played from 1993 to 2009.
In a previous interview with TMZ Sports, Favre estimated that he may have suffered “thousands” of concussions during his time in the NFL. He is recognized as an 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time MVP, ranking fourth all-time in passing yards and touchdowns. However, his athletic career was marked by struggles with addiction to prescription painkillers, which led him to rehabilitation multiple times. He shared a grim account of his addiction, disclosing that he would take 16 Vicodin at once.
Commenting on an upcoming documentary titled “Concussed: The American Dream,” Favre emphasized the seriousness of concussions in football. “Concussions are serious,” he remarked, recognizing a shift in how these injuries are perceived today while acknowledging that the underlying issues persist.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Favre expressed no regrets about his career choices. He reflected on his passion for the game, stating, “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.”