NFL Legend Brett Favre Says He's Been Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

Legendary quarterback Brett Favre testified in front of Congress that he was "recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease."

He later discussed the news in a post on X:

A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports first reported on Favre's testimony, noting the quarterback planned "to reveal his diagnosis when he mentions Prevacus, the now defunct drug company that received about $2 million and counted Favre as its largest individual investor."

Favre said in a 2022 interview he thought he had suffered "thousands" of concussions based on how they're now commonly identified. Experiencing a traumatic brain injury is believed to increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease later in life.

Not only did Favre spend 20 years in the NFL as a player, but he was also lauded for his durability. He didn't miss a single game from 1993 to 2009 and he set a record for consecutive starts.

An 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time MVP, the 54-year-old is one of the most prolific passers in league history. He's fourth all-time in both passing yards (71,838) and touchdowns (508)

In retirement, Favre eventually became mired in scandal after Mississippi Today's Anna Wolfe reported in April 2022 on how he received misappropriated state funds for various projects. One was for a new volleyball stadium at Southern Miss, his alma mater, and where his daughter had played on the team. Millions more went to Prevacus, with whom he was an investor, and affiliate company PreSolMD.

ESPN's Mark Fainaru-Wada subsequently reported Prevacus and PreSolMD "overstated their NFL connections and exaggerated the known effectiveness of their drugs during efforts to raise money." The companies said they were working on a nasal spray to treat concussions along with a preventative cream.

Favre's testimony came as part of the House Ways and Means Committee's wider examination into welfare reform.