During his NFL career, Brett Favre was known for his fearless playing style, often holding onto the ball until the very last second to deliver game-changing plays. Now, the Hall of Fame quarterback faces a different kind of battle-one that leaves him feeling “frightened” for what lies ahead.
In a recent interview, the 55-year-old Green Bay Packers legend opened up about his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, which he revealed publicly during a congressional hearing on welfare reform in September 2024. The condition, a degenerative brain disorder, has shaken Favre‘s typically unshakable resolve.
Favre’s concerns
Parkinson’s disease is marked by symptoms such as tremors, slowed movements, balance issues, and non-motor challenges like depression and anxiety. For Favre, the diagnosis was a devastating blow.
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“I have to admit, I thought the world was caving in on me. It was the end of the world,” Favre told TMZ. “I can’t believe this, not me. I’m healthy, I’m very active, it doesn’t happen to me.”
The former quarterback described the overwhelming fear that accompanied the diagnosis. “There’s always the fear of what happens next … what’s the next step?”
Favre’s concerns have been heightened by recent news in the sports world, such as the revelation that former NFL player Frank Wycheck had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died.
“It makes me wonder what the future brings for me,” Favre said. “I’ve already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I often wonder-and I try not to, but I can’t help it-what the future holds.”
Favre also reflected on the increasing awareness of CTE, a condition caused by repetitive head trauma. While research into the long-term effects of concussions has grown, Favre believes the problem may be even larger than people realize.
“I would think that every player that dies from here on out, if they have their brain tested, I’d say a high percentage would [have] CTE,” Favre said. “We’re just really scraping the surface of how damaging head trauma can be.
“I think people now take it seriously, but there is still that ‘Ah, you know’ [attitude], almost like it’s a fad, but we know it’s not.”