For a second year in a row, superstar quarterback Brett Favre is retiring. During a teleconference Wednesday, Favre announced that he was hanging up his cleats for good. For many football fans, Favre’s retirement talk sounded all too familiar.
During a press conference last March, Favre revealed that he would no longer be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. After days of contemplating the move, Favre retired from professional football.
Favre told reporters through tears, “I’ve given everything I possibly can give to this organization [Green Bay Packers], to the game of football, and I don’t think I’ve got anything left to give.” This year, Favre delivered the same message minus the tears and as a New York Jet.
Favre told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder the news on a teleconference. “It’s time to leave,” said Favre. “It’s been a wonderful career, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Favre’s 18-year career, “wonderful” is an understatement. Besides entertaining fans with laser-like throws and countless last-minute comebacks, Favre also stamped his name all over the NFL record book.
According to NFL.com, Favre leaves the game as the league’s leader in passing yards (65,127), touchdown passes (464), pass completions (5,720), pass attempts (9,280), and interceptions (310). Favre is also tied with Peyton Manning for three MVP awards, the most all-time won.
Favre also gained a reputation for being one of the most durable players football ever. The NFL’s “iron-man” has started in 269 consecutive games (not including the playoffs), which is the most for any quarterback and second most for any offensive or defensive player.
With the Packers, Favre led his team to two consecutive Super Bowls. The first in which they won against the Patriots in 1997 and the second in which they lost to the Broncos in 1998.
Although his records rank among the best, most football fans remember the moments, not the numbers.
“He made football interesting,” said Matthew Napier, a 23-year-old public administrationgraduate student from Miami. Napier said one of his favorite Favre moments was Antonio Freeman’s game-winning circus-catch against the Vikings.
“He’s definitely top five all-time,” said Napier of Favre’s rank among quarterbacks in the NFL. Although he is disappointed in Favre’s retirement, Napier felt that Favre is really done this time. “I wasn’t surprised,” he said of the quarterback’s decision. “I was kind of expecting it.”
Not all football fans are ready to believe that Favre is done, but as of Feb. 11, 2009, Brett Favre is retired from professional football.
“I don’t think he’s done yet,” says Ghauquan Clark, 19, a criminal justice student from Cocoa. “He’s going to come back,” he says. Clark isn’t surprised to hear that Favre retired but agrees with his decision. “He should retire, says the freshman student, “He’s getting old.” Clark also felt Favre’s uncertainty with retirement has been unfair to fans of the sport.
A few Jets players were anxious for Favre to come to a decision on his future with the team. Now that his retirement is official the Jet franchise can move forward with their off season preparations.
If history repeats itself, by August Favre will be bored with his life at home and ready to toss another pigskin.