WASHINGTON (AP) — On Tuesday, retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre revealed to a congressional committee that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The announcement came during his testimony regarding a welfare fraud scandal in Mississippi. While Favre has not faced any criminal charges related to the issue, he has returned over $1 million in speaking fees that were financed by a state welfare program. Additionally, Favre was involved as an investor in a biotech company linked to this case, which claimed to be developing treatments for concussions.
At 54 years old, Favre expressed his disappointment over losing his investment in the biotech firm, stating, “I believed in it as a breakthrough concussion drug that could help others.”
“Although it may be too late for me, I feel deeply connected to this cause,” he added. His diagnosis is particularly concerning given that the exact causes of Parkinson’s are still not fully understood. It remains uncertain whether his condition is related to his long football career or past head injuries. In a 2022 radio interview, Favre estimated he may have endured “thousands” of concussions throughout his 20 years in the NFL.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the disease is believed to develop due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental factors may potentially include head injuries, exposure to pesticides, or even one’s geographical location. Favre is among the estimated 90,000 individuals in the United States expected to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease this year, as highlighted by Parkinson’s Foundation CEO John Lehr.
Reflecting on his football career, Favre noted that he initially underestimated the number of concussions he had sustained, but further research revealed that concussions can occur even without loss of consciousness. He recalled a specific incident during a 2004 game where he suffered a concussion yet returned to play after just two plays, throwing a touchdown without medical clearance.
Favre’s appearance at the House Ways and Means Committee, led by Republicans, was aimed at promoting reforms to the federal welfare system to combat fraud more effectively. He voiced frustration over challenges his family has faced due to the welfare scandal, saying, “These difficulties—resulting from the actions of certain Mississippi government officials who failed to secure federal TANF funds—have tarnished my good name more than anything I encountered in football.”
House Republicans cite the Mississippi scandal as evidence for the urgent need for an overhaul of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. While Favre asserts that he provided valuable services to the nonprofit that compensated him with state funds, the state auditor claims he did not fulfill these speaking engagements.
Favre maintains that he was unaware that the payments he received were drawn from welfare funds and has emphasized his charity work, which has contributed millions to support impoverished children in Mississippi and Wisconsin, where he played the majority of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
During his illustrious career, Favre was known for his impressive durability, setting an NFL record with 297 consecutive starts, which extends to 321 when playoff games are included. He won three consecutive MVP awards from 1995 to 1997 and led the Packers to their first Super Bowl victory in nearly 30 years in 1996, also returning to the Super Bowl the following year.
Favre played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007, along with stints at the Atlanta Falcons (1991), New York Jets (2008), and Minnesota Vikings (2009-10). Upon retiring in 2011, he held several NFL passing records and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Megargee contributed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
