Brett Favre biography

Synopsis

NFL quarterback Brett Favre was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1969. The son of a football coach, Favre attended the University of Southern Mississippi. After a stellar college career, Favre was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL draft. Following his trade to the Green Bay Packers the next year, Favre led the franchise to victory in the Super Bowl XXXI. He was also named the league's MVP three years in a row. After shorter stints with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, Favre retired from football after the 2010 season.

Early Years

Quarterback Brett Favre was born Brett Lorenzo Favre in Gulfport, Mississippi, on October 10, 1969. The second of four boys, Favre grew up in the wilds of bayou country, hunting and fishing with his three brothers.

In school, Favre, like his siblings, showed a passion and talent for baseball and football. Initially, at least, he seemed to be a better baseball player, as Favre took a spot in the starting rotation for Hancock North Central in the eighth grade.

But as the son of a tough-nosed football coach, Favre demonstrated a gift in his other sport as well. Big and strong, Favre, who was coached by his father in high school, played quarterback throughout his years at Hancock North Central. But his talent drew little notice or praise from college scouts. When it came time to pick a school, Favre chose the University of Southern Mississippi, in large part because it was the only college to offer him a scholarship.

As a college player, Favre packed a toughness his teammates easily admired with a propensity for late game heroics. He also set several school records, and in the 1991 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons chose the young QB with the 33rd overall selection.

Pro Career

Favre took just a few snaps for the Falcons his rookie year. Throughout the year, the franchise was at odds over what the future held for Favre and so, when the Green Bay Packers offered the club a first round pick for the backup quarterback, the team took the deal.

Favre went on to have a remarkable run with the Packers, turning around the struggling but once-proud franchise into a perennial winner while establishing himself as one of the game's best quarterbacks. Over the course of 16 seasons with the franchise, Favre led the team to a pair of Super Bowls, winning one, and becoming the first NFL player to win three straight MVP awards.

In addition, Favre started every single Packer game from September 20, 1992 to January 20, 2008. Overall, Favre's ironman streak would run an amazing 297 games, an NFL record.

In 2008, the Packers traded Favre, who'd waffled on whether to retire, to the New York Jets. While his 2008 season with the Jets started out well, the team lost four of their last five games, including their final game against the Miami Dolphins, and they missed the playoffs.

In April 2009, Favre was released from his contract with the Jets, and began a career with the Minnesota Vikings. Later that year, he was named to his 11th Pro Bowl.

Despite continuing to pronounce that the 2010 season would be his last, Favre returned to Minnesota in 2011 for what would become a disappointing season for the quarterback and the club. Favre retired for good at the end of 2011, and returned to Mississippi. He finished with NFL records in passing (71,838) and touchdowns (508)—both of which were previously been held by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins.

In 2012, Favre was hired as an assistant football coach at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.