When you hear the name Joe Montana, you think of one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. When you hear the names John Elway, Steve Young, Payton Manning, Johnny Unitis, and so on, you think of all great quarterbacks. But when you hear the name Brett Favre, what do you think of? A guy who threw more interceptions than any other quarterback? A guy who went to the Green Bay Packers division rival, Minnesota Vikings? A guy who had a sexting scandal when he was with the New York Jets? You know what I think about? One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.Brett Favre was drafted out of Southern Miss in 1991 in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons. Let's just say, Favre didn't have the great relationship there with head coach Jerry Glanville. Glanville even said that it would take a plane crash for Brett Favre to play in Atlanta. Favre's career in Atlanta was short lived as he threw the ball four times, had no completions, and 2 interceptions. What did Ron Wolf see in this guy? Apparantley something because after the 1991 season, Wolf traded a first round pick to Atlanta for Brett Favre. In the second game that year, the Packers were down 17-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at halftime so head coach Mike Holmgren decided to bench starting quarterback Don Majkowski and put in Brett Favre. Favre ended up throwing his first pass as Packer and his first complete pass to himself for a gain of -7 yards. The Packers lost that game 31-3. Majkowski would start the next game but get an injured ligement in his ankle. Favre would come in and actually fumble four times but he would end up throwing the game-winning touchdown in that game against the Bengals with 13 seconds left and Favre would be the guy from there on out. That year, Favre threw for 3,227 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. From 1993 to 1995, Favre threw for 11,598 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 51 interceptions. The year after that was simply put, magically.
Favre would work his magic in 1996, throwing for 3,899 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. That year was special because it would the year Brett Favre would win his one and only Super Bowl Championship. For the first time since 1967, Favre and the Packers were bringing the Lombardi Trophy home. Throughout his career in Green Bay, Favre threw for 61,665 yards, 460 touchdowns, and 286 interceptions. Although the interceptions may be a bit crazy, Favre threw for unbelieveable numbers in his career with the Packers. He would leave the fans with great memories, such as his nearly perfect performance on Monday Night against the Raiders the night is father died or how about when he won the Super Bowl and ran off the field, helmet held high? Although he left the Packers with an interception, Favre in 2007 threw for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns and took the Packers to the NFC Championship.
The drama would begin after that as Favre announced his retirement. After an offseason with Green Bay planning to move foward with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback, Favre decided he still wanted to play football. The Packers would trade him away to the New York Jets that year and that to was short-lived. After his season with the Jets, Favre was going to retire again, becoming a free agent. However, Minnesota Vikings players such as Jared Allen flew to Favre's Mississippi home and convinced him to come out of retirement and play for the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers division rival. Favre actually had one of the best years of his career in Minnesota, as he threw for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns, and a career-low as a starter, 7 interceptions. Although all seemed in good in Minnesota, fate reared its ugly head in the NFC Championship against the New Orleans Saints that year as Favre would throw an interception toward the end of the game, allowing the Saints to kick a game winning field goal. Favre almost knew that was his last chance at the Super Bowl but had to have realized that's what he gets for going to the Vikings. Or maybe he didn't. Who knows. All I know is Favre would play one more year after that and would hardly play due to injury. Favre suited up, injured and all, for one last game against the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings on a Monday Night at TCF Bank Stadium as the Metrodome had a collapsed roof. Favre would be sacked by Corey Wooten and that would be the end of his career.
Favre still finished his 20 year career with a passer rating of 86.0, 71,838 yards, and 508 touchdown passes. So why write this? Well Payton Manning just broke Favre's record of 508 touchdown passes and it only seems fitting. Many talk about Payton's legacy, but the legacy of Brett Favre is hardly talked about. Now how would I define Brett Favre? I would define him as one of the best, most exciting, and most contraversal quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. I would also say that watching Favre play quarterback for many years as a Packer was an honor and privelage and as a fan, I thank him for all the memories. Brett, we can't wait till you come home.
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