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 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.
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. The rejuvenated veteran topped 4,000 passing yards and threw 33 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, guiding the Vikings to a 12-4 record and a spot in the NFC Championship Game. At the end of the year, he was named to his 11th Pro Bowl.
Favre returned to Minnesota in 2010 for what would become a disappointing season for the quarterback and the club. He retired for good in January 2011, and returned to Mississippi. Favre finished with NFL records in passing (71,838) and touchdowns (508)—both of which had 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. He was asked by the St. Louis Rams to return to the NFL the following October, but he declined their offer. Favre admitted to the media around this time that he was suffering from some memory loss, which he attributed in part to the many injuries he sustained during his pro football career.
One of the greatest players in Green Bay's storied history, Favre was set to be honored by his old team with induction into the Packers Hall of Fame and a number retirement ceremony in 2015.
- Brett
No comments:
Post a Comment