Brett Lorenzo Favre was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and raised in the small town of Kiln, Mississippi. He is the second of four children and attended Hancock North Central High School where he played baseball and football. 

 

Upon graduation, Favre received a scholarship from the University of Southern Mississippi.  He began his freshman year as the seventh-string quarterback and took over the starting position in the second half of the third game of the year.  In his junior season, Favre led the Golden Eagles to an upset of Florida State (then ranked sixth in the nation) on September 2, 1989. On July 14, 1990, before the start of Favre's senior year at Southern Miss, he was involved in a near-fatal car accident. Six weeks after this incident, on September 8, Favre led Southern Miss to a comeback victory over Alabama. Alabama coach Gene Stallings said, "You can call it a miracle or a legend or whatever you want, I just know that on that day, Brett Favre was larger than life."   Favre continues to hold numerous records at Southern Miss.
 

Professional career

Favre began his career in the NFL when he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round, 33rd overall in the 1991 NFL Draft.  

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In 1992, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers and played 16 seasons with the team.  During his career with Green Bay, Favre was the first NFL player to win three consecutive AP MVP awards. He also helped the Packers appear in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI.  

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On August 7, 2008 the Packers traded Favre to the New York Jets.  In week four, he threw six touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals, a personal best and one fewer than the NFL record. This performance led to him being selected as the FedEx Air Player of the Week.   

 

On August 18, 2009, Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings. During Week 2, Favre surpassed former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall for consecutive starts at one position, with 291.   On October 5, with a 30-23 victory over his former team (Green Bay Packers), Favre became the first quarterback in NFL history to defeat every one of the league's 32 franchises since the NFL first expanded to 32 teams in 2002. This Monday night game between Minnesota and Green Bay was the most-viewed television program, sports or otherwise, in the history of cable television with 21.8 million viewers.

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November 22, Favre threw for four touchdowns in the 35-9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, taking the Vikings to a 9-1 record. Brett's four touchdown passes surpassed Dan Marino's previous record, taking it to 22 four-touchdown games.   

 

Favre and the Vikings subsequently lost in the NFC Championship game in overtime against the New Orleans Saints. Despite the loss, Favre set playoff records for pass completions and passing yards previously held by Joe Montana.

Honors and awards

• 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame

• 2015 Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

• 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

• Espy Awards: 2010 Best Play, 2008 Best Record Breaking Performance,1996 Best NFL Player

• 2008 FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year

• 2007 National Make A Wish Chris Greicius Award

• 2005 United Press International Offensive Player of the Year

• 1995, 1996, 1997 Associated Press Most Valuable Player (MVP)  

• 1995 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

• Named to NFL All Decade Team.

• Super Bowl XXX1 Champion

 

Records and milestones

• Favre holds the NFL record for most consecutive starts for any position at 297. This record is widely considered one of the most notable records in sports, so much so that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has as an exhibit displaying the jersey Favre wore during his record breaking 117th consecutive start as a quarterback, and a section of their website devoted to what the Hall of Fame designates as a “NFL Ironman”

• Selected to play in 11 Pro Bowls

• Six-time First- or Second-team All-Pro selection

• NFL MVP 1995, 1996, 1997

• 71,838 passing yards

• 508 Touchdown passes

• 185 Wins

 

Personal life

Favre married Deanna Tynes on July 14, 1996. Brett and Deanna have two daughters, Brittany and Breleigh and three grandsons Parker Brett, Alexander James, and Oscar.