In the wake of a media frenzy following Brett Favre's sort-of-leaked retirement decision, the man himself flew to Green Bay last Thursday to publicly lay his football career to rest.
True to character, Favre took the stage as himself—no frills, no suit, no clean shave, and no prepared statement.
As a bearded Favre walked to the podium in blue jeans and an untucked button-down, no doubt there was still a sliver of hope among fans—and perhaps within Favre himself—that this was somehow not really the end.
Favre sat down and tried to confidently deliver his first words, as if he could actually do so with any sort of nonchalance.
"Well, I think we all know why I'm here," Favre said hurriedly. "First of all, sorry I'm late. But I am in fact retiring from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers."
Then, for the next 10 minutes, the iron man of Green Bay had trouble speaking. He sobbed and choked on his words. He shook his head and buried his face in his hands.
"It was never about the money, or fame, or records," he sputtered through snot and sighs.
And so began Favre's emotional confession that he couldn't give anything more to the game.
He wanted to keep playing, and he certainly felt the pressure to keep going—from fans and from himself—but a change had been brewing inside of him for years, and had finally came to a head this past season.
The change was there to be seen throughout 2007. Discriminating fans who watched the QB's postgame press conferences noted that he adopted a cautious tone about success, as if making a preemptive strike against the terror of defeat.
The legend was finally feeling his years, not so much physically as mentally. If age really is a state of mind, it appears Favre has indeed gotten old.
Attempting to explain the subtle but damaging transformation in his attitude, Favre said, "After numerous games I would come home and after a couple of hours I had the computer out and I was watching film of the upcoming opponent instead of enjoying the win we just had. At some point, you've got to relax and enjoy and I found myself not enjoying it as much. It's fun to win but you've got to enjoy it and relax a little bit. That more than anything was taking its toll on me."
And there you have it. The celebrated flame of youthful exuberance—the trait his fans loved him for—had been extinguished.
That's why Brett Favre cried as he tried to explain—to himself as much as to his fans—why he wasn't coming back. He felt the core of his personality being whittled away by the pressure to live up to extraordinary expectations—and it wasn't a comfortable feeling.
"I could probably come back and do it, suck it up, but what kind of a toll would that take on me, my family or my teammates?" he said. "At some point it would affect one of those, if not all of them. Maybe it has already."
That's the root of the sense of loss that comes with Favre's retirement: the knowledge that the ultimate fan favorite could no longer stay young and boisterous in the face of pressure, personal tragedy, injury, defeat, and anything else life threw at him.
Being a sports fan means living vicariously through the athletes we admire. And Favre's fans wanted to believe in the undaunted No. 4. They took hope from him—not the hope of fortune or fame, but the hope of survival, the hope that it's possible to fight through criticism and adversity with unwavering resolve.
Favre knew that spontaneity, not tedious preparation, was what really kept him going for 17 years.
"As I've heard, that the way he's played the game, with as much fun as he's had, is all important and I agree with that," he said. "It's a game and I played it spontaneously, nothing was ever choreographed. And I've always said this: The money they pay is icing on the cake. It had no bearing on the way I played. I played the game regardless a certain way. And I hope that's what people appreciate about me."
That is certainly what fans appreciate about Favre. And that's why more than a smattering of grown men and women shed at least an inward tear during Favre's press conference.
If Brett Favre can get old, then anyone can get old. If Brett Favre admits he can't handle the pressure of being himself, who among his fans can do any better?
But along with the fears and tears of Favre's retirement press conference, there's also a sense of closure, and the promise of a new dawn.
Favre felt the winds of change within himself this past season. His retirement is not a surrender to mounting pressure or a resignation to apprehension or defeat—he's simply moving on before something steals his soul.
That's what fans can learn from his decision to retire: There's nothing more important than remaining true to yourself.
You have to live life a certain way—your own way. Sometimes you have to take seemingly drastic measures to keep yourself intact. That's what Favre really told his fans last week.
And that's why there is no need for anyone who truly admired Favre to shed a tear.
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6 months ago
Great piece — his is a career worth celebrating, but for the next few weeks, it's hard not to take up a somber tone even in the wake of all the good that has come from his seventeen amazing years.
6 months ago
Beautiful piece Michael. A fitting tribute to an NFL legend.
I've been pretty choked up about this whole thing, but you really put it all into perspective. There is without a doubt a sense of closure that is comforting in a way, even though we will miss #4 dearly and wonder whether he could have gotten the Packers back to the Super Bowl this season.
Honestly, that press conference was one of the best exits I've seen in my life. I hated the idea that the last memory fans would have of Brett was him shivering cold and red-faced in Lambeau, playing like crap and going out an old, tired man.
The class and heart which Favre displayed in the press conference will instead leave a lasting image of a man who played the game of football for no other reason than a genuine passion for the game.
We will miss you Brett.
6 months ago
couldn't have said it better myself (thats not saying much) seriously though that was brilliantly written. a very fitting tribute to the 3rd best QB in NFL history and one of the more gutty players I have ever seen or heard of. good work
6 months ago
I love you, this is the first NFL season since I was born that you won't be in the NFL. Come back, please, Rodgers is a fucking hippie, we need you. Donald needs you, I will watch your wife so you can focus on football.
6 months ago
Thanks for the compliment Zander. Favre gave himself to the Packers and to the fans one last time at that press conference. He felt he owed an explanation for his decision, and he hopped a plane to Green Bay and laid himself before the press, answering questions for more than an hour (although I'm sure it was about as comfortable for him at first as walking to the gallows).
In an age where pro athletes have a hard time getting through a page of scripted notes to handle tough situations (or just speak through press releases and/or agents), Favre fought through the fire and made the situation as transparent as possible - bringing the retirement to terms for himself and his fans and community at the same time.
Like you said, it was a testament to his class and heart.
6 months ago
Great post. You really captured the sense of loss for all true football fans, regardless of which team we support. Not only was Favre a great player, he was a player that we could all relate to on a personal level.
6 months ago
Great Post. I also feel that you've captured the sense of loss for all true football fans.
6 months ago
Great story.
6 months ago
Nice job. I'm 43 and I've never had a "hero" per se. I suppose if I had to pick one it would be my father. Aside from dad, it would be Brett. Watching him play the game, through all his triumphs and his tribulations, I saw myself. Many of us saw ourselves. Favre truly was representative of the people and that's why we Packer fans loved(love) him so much. My best friend emailed me a quote attributed to "Anonymous" that read, "Don't be said because it's over... be happy because it happened."
IT happened. Brett happened. And he was ours. Brett IS one for the ages.
from 6 months ago
Jeff,
There aren't many people to admire in this day and age - in politics, music, movies, sports etc. etc. It isn't the day and age when people may have been superficial assholes and no one knew about it because they could hide their true tempermants. If someone's not sincere today, it's pretty easy to see because of the huge proliferation of media, especially the Internet. I only have a few public figures I enjoy watching because I relate to them and feel I can take something valuable from following what they do. Favre is one of those people.
6 months ago
I love it, you really pin-pointed why he is so special.
Im a hugh Favre fan and I can say I will always miss watching him on Sundays.
from 6 months ago
Thanks for the pick James. There won't be another Favre - football is now different.
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