Brett's Newsconference:
• Audio: Part 1 | Part 2
• More Audio at Packers.com

Packers Confirm Favre Retirement:
• Click here to read the Packers' statement

Email Us Your Thoughts About Brett Favre:
• Click here to email your thoughts (we may use them on-air or online later)
• Read thoughts sent in by others

Related Coverage:
• Favre: It's Over"
• Favre's Record Resume
• Brett's Comebacks
• Off The Field
• Hall of Fame Reservations
• Bart on Brett
• Favre: Real Men Can Cry
• Packers Still Own His Rights
• Autographed Stuff Selling
• Our Experts' Thoughts

Audio: Reaction 
• WMN's John Jagler and Gene Mueller breaking the news
• Bonita Favre: Is Brett So Sure?
• Brett's Voicemail to ESPN's Chris Mortensen
• Brett's Brother Scott talks to Today's TMJ 4 and with Bill Michaels
• Packers Coach Mike McCarthy with the Big Unit
• Former Packers President/CEO Bob Harlan on the Greenhouse
• Former Teammate Brian Noble
• Former Teammate Antonio Freeman on Today's TMJ4
• Former Teammate John Jurkovic
• Former Teammate William Henderson on Today's TMJ4 and with the Big Unit
• Wayne Larrivee on Charlie Sykes and Sports Central
• Larry McCarren on Today's TMJ4
• Bill Michaels
• Lance Allan
• Bart Starr
• Jerry Kramer on Today's TMJ4
• NFL Films' Steve Sabol
• The Enemy Perspective with Former Chicago Bear Doug Buffone
• CBS Sportsline's Clark Judge
• John Cox, who called his college games at Southern Mississippi

Audio: A Legendary Career
• Favre's Career Resume
• Where Brett Stands All-Time
• Favre's Playoff Record
• Brett's Comebacks
• Favre's 2007 Season
• Brett's Off The Field Legacy

Favre Year-By-Year:
• 1992 | 1993
• 1994 | 1995
• 1996 | 1997
• 1998 | 1999
• 2000 | 2001
• 2002 | 2003
• 2004 | 2005
• 2006 | 2007

In a teary-eyed press conference at Lambeau Field, future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre simply, "it's over."

Reaching tears within seconds of starting his press conference, the three-time NFL MVP spoke from the heart for at least 30 minutes on the reasons why he's leaving his National Footbal League playing career.

"I've given everything to this game of football," said the Packers signalcaller since 1992, believing he's got "nothing left to give.

"As they say, all good things must come to an end. I look forwrd to whatever the future may hold for me."

He also thanked countless people, from the Packers...

"I hope that with every penny they've spent on me, they know it was money well spent."

...to fans...

"I can't leave without saying thank you to the fans. When I laugehd they laughed, when I cried they cried, when I threw an interception...well..."

...to family...

"I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me, Deanna, and our two girls. Thank you for being there, supporting me."

...to teammates...

"It wasn't about the money or fame or records. I hear people talk about your accomplishments and things. It was never my accomplishments, it was our accomplishments."

...to God.

"God has blessed me with so many great things, ability, wonderful family...He gave me an opportunity to use my ability, and I seized that opportunity. I thank Him for that."

But he felt he simply didn't have enough to continue his current phase of life as an NFL quarterback.

"It's demanding. I'm not up to the challenge anymore. I can play, but I'm not up to the challenge.

"I have way too much pride, expect a lot of myself, if I can't do those things, then I can't play."

Nothing To Do With Moss, Anyone Else

Favre also made it a point to stress that his decision had nothing to do with personnel decisions, or a perceived lack of them, on the part of the Packers in the recent free-agency period.

"I think there have been a lot of things in the press this week that are untrue.  Believe me, I questioned my decision.  I think it's the right decision, and there's nothing that they could do or say to change that.  They could make me wonder, but I think that's part of it. 

"It's a hard decision, believe me.""I've given everything I could possibly give to this organization, to the game of football, and I don't think I've got anything left to give.  That's it.

"Whether or not the Packers did enough, whether or not Ted or Mike tried to convince me to stay, none of those things have anything to do with me retiring, and that's from the heart. 

"I'm going out on top, believe me, I could care less what other people think. I'm going out on top."

Aaron Rodgers Comes In...He Should Be Himself

Brett stated that his understudy and heir apparent, Aaron Rodgers, should not have to worry about the idea of following one of the greatest athletes to ever step on an NFL field.

"He's his own player, his own style, and that's what needs to stick to.

"Hopefully what he's learning from me is things away from the field."

Brett's Off The Field Impact

For 16 years, Favre and his wife Deanna started foundations and did countless charitable effort for everything from Hurricane Katrina victims to those who suffered breast cancer.

"That stuff is so much more important than football. I've had so many people say to me 'you made a great impact on people.' They made a great impact on me.

"Because of football, I've been impacted by a lot of people."

"The fact that I've been able to touch many people's lives...I am very proud of the things I've done off the field. We have impacted other people's lives in a positive way. We are thankful for that."

He'll Miss The Guys, Cause He's An Everyday Guy

When asked what he would miss, he understood why so many past players say they miss the locker room relationsihps.

"Everyone of the guys I've talked to, have said 'the things that you miss, yeah you miss the games, but it is the guys.'  I haven't heard to many guys say I miss the meetings, the practice.  I may miss them to a certain extent.

"The friendships you make a long the way...they are special.

"I think I'll miss grinding together.  Football is, I think, unique because you have to rely on one another so much more than other.

"I will miss that.  Meetings with receivers...slapping our big linemen on the butt.  That's what it's all about.  I will miss that stuff."

Many people saw Favre's personality, his "everyday guy-dom," as a reason why he became so loved.  To put it simply, as he said:

"I am.  I just play professional football.  That is a little different job than most people, but we are regular people.  Things have happened to our family, maybe being that we're in the public eye, things we've had to deal with, tragedy. 

"Obviously that's dealt within the commnuity and the world. 

"When other people are able to deal with it privately, we're able to say "death does happen to Brett Favre, to Deanna Favre.  Cancer does happen to them.

"It's life.  We've had to deal with it with the public, and we're thankful for that, and it has helped."

While traveling to Lambeau Field for the press conference, Deanna gave him one piece of advice which seems to reflect how he'll approach what's coming for his next step in life.

" 'See life through the front windshield, and not through the rear view mirror.' That is so true."

Favre's Original Retirement Announcement

The Green Bay Packers confirmed on Turesday that Favre informed the team of his decision to retire from the Packers and the NFL. 

"To me, the only way to come back and feel like I made the right decision would be to come back and win a Super Bowl," Favre said in a voice mail message for ESPN's Chris Mortensen.  "The odds of that are tough.  That's big shoes to fill for me, and I guess it's a challenge I guess I wasn't up for."

Favre revealed that the pressure of the team's success in 2007 weighed on him.

"The more we won the more stressful it got," he explained.  "You would think otherwise, but I was always trying to top what I had done the previous week."

"I felt like coming back this year...the only way it would be successful is to go to a Super Bowl.  And if we did that and lost, that might be worse than anything."

Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, states his retirement also hinged on the Packers going after free agent receiver Randy Moss, who re-signed with the New England Patriots.

"I think without question, without a doubt, that had they signed Randy Moss, that Brett Favre would have gone back," said Cook, who was also Moss' agent.

During Super Bowl week this February, Moss had made critical comments of the Packers, who apparently attempted to nab Moss in a trade in 2007.  Moss said the Packers made the point that Donald Driver was their number one receiver, and that he wouldn't feel welcome for that and other reasons.

The surprise move came after the Packers finished a surprising 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game while Favre set a number of NFL passing records. 

The Team's Reaction

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude," general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement.  "He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever."

"Brett's many accomplishments on the field are legendary. He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated."

"It was the passion with which he played which has made everyone Brett Favre fans," said Thompson in a subsequent press conference.

"His personality and love for the game allows him to become an icon to all sports fans, all around the world."

"We're disappointed, but we certainly respect Brett's decision, and it is his decision."

During the conference, coach Mike McCarthy gave the final thought process and series of conversations he had with Brett, revealing how Favre came to his decision.

"I took Brett's call last night about 7:00 p.m.," said Coach Mike McCarthy.

"He informed me it was time for him to hang up the cleats, as he referred to it. It was really a very simple conversation, very similar to the conversations we've had the last four weeks.

"He's mentally tired, and there's just a lot of little things that go into his mental preparation to prepare for the season, in season, and we talked about those topics again.

"We talked again last night, about 9:00-9:30 p.m., after the 7:00 conversation. I called Ted, and then Ted and Brett spoke this morning.

"We talked on Thursday...about a lot of pros and cons, but the thing we kept coming back to is that he's mentally tired.

"I was surprised when he told me, no question. It's something he's given a lot of thought.

"The last words he left were that he needs to dig deep in his heart and make the right decision."

In a news release, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Favre "one of the greatest players and fiercest competitors" in league history.

"It has been a joy and privilege for all of us to watch him play," Goodell continued.  "We wish Brett, Deanna and their family all the best and hope he will stay connected to the game that he honored with his brilliant play for so many years." 

Brett's Hall Of Fame Resume

Nine years ago, after a comeback win over the Oakland Raiders in the 1999 season opener, Newsradio 620 WTMJ/Packers Radio Network color commentator Larry McCarren said it best,

"They ought to put him into Canton right now."

That fact now remains truer than ever, possibly because no NFL quarterback has ever meant more to an individual franchise's fortunes, or perhaps even their long-term existence.

And no NFl quarterback has done it through such a swashbuckling manner in which he played and embraced the game of football.

Between the end of Vince Lombardi's coaching tenure in Green Bay, when the team won five NFL championships in seven years, and the start of Favre's 16 years in Green Bay, the Packers had returned to the playoffs just twice, in 1972 and the 1982 strike shortened season.

Since then, Favre used his right arm and force of personality to deliver the Packers to 11 playoff appearances, seven division championships, two Super Bowl appearances and a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

Had he not been with Green Bay, who knows if the Packers would have ever made any of those playoff appearances, let alone won a Super Bowl.

And had that not occurred, could the Packers have earned enough love from its fans to garner support for a stock sale in 1997 and the renovation of Lambeau Field?  Those are two steps that have guaranteed the Packers' relevance in the NFL, and perhaps their long-term future.

It's a legacy that led then-Packers president Bob Harlan to decide in 2005 that the team will retire Favre's number at his retirement.

But none of that would have happened had a general manager not risked a first round draft pick on a rookie quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons who apparently had drunk his way out of a job.

How Brett Came To Green Bay

Favre, born in Kiln, MS to his mother Bonita and a football-loving father named Irv, went to Southern Mississippi before the Atlanta Falcons selected him with a second round pick, the 33rd overall in the 1991 NFL draft...and proceeded to realize he wasn't anywhere near Hall of Fame material.

He made his Falcons debut against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first game of the 1991 season, and never threw a pass. He only delivered a throw in the game against Washington on November 10th of that year.

In fact, he threw four passes that game against the eventual Super Bowl Champions. Two were intercepted.

Still, new Packers general manager Ron Wolf wanted Favre in a Green Bay uniform after following his college career while working with the New York Jets.

Wolf rolled the dice by trading his 1992 first round draft pick - an upgrade on Atlanta's second round pick used for Favre - on the quarterback with an 0-4, 2 INT statistical NFL career.

Oh, he improved on that, even after his produced his first career NFL completion...to himself for a seven-yard loss against Tampa Bay in Week 2 of the 1992 campaign.

Favre's Comebacks: On The Field

His next game, in Week 3 against Cincinnati, became the "Birth of a Legend" and the first of 40 fourth-quarter or overtime comebacks in Favre's career.

When Packers starter Don Majkowski went down with a torn ligament in his ankle, Favre replaced him and played the remainder of the game.

He completed 22 of 39 passes, a subpar 56.4% completion percentage. He got sacked five times, fumbled the ball four times, and lost two fumbles.

But with one magical completion, a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kittrick Taylor with 13 seconds left to turn what was a 14-point deficit into a 24-23 win, Favre started cementing his place in NFL history.

You can add 39 more comebacks to that legacy, including:

- the 1993 NFC Wildcard game at Detroit, with a game-winning 40-yard scoring throw to Sterling Sharpe with :55 left

- the last game ever played at Milwaukee County Stadium, against Atlanta in 1994, with a Favre scramble for a victory-producing nine-yard scoring run with :14 remaining

- three game-winning touchdown passes in the final two minutes of three victories in the first 29 days of the 1999 season, against Oakland, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, all at Lambeau Field

- the "improbable bobble" to Antonio Freeman in overtime against Minnesota in 2000

- an NFC North Division championship-clinching comeback victory over Minnesota in 2004, with a fourth-down scoring throw to Donald Driver in the final four minutes and a last-second drive to produce a Ryan Longwell field goal at the final buzzer

- two 60-yard+ scoring throws to Greg Jennings to win games at Denver and Kansas City in a period of six days in 2007.

Favre's Comebacks: Beyond The Field

Those comebacks, though, may offer nothing compared to what Favre has overcome in his personal life.

Favre went through a four-year addiction to the painkiller Vicodin, one which began when he played through a shoulder injury in the Packers' comeback win over Philadelphia in 1992.

He publicly admitted his dependence, and entered inpatient rehabilitation, in 1996, the year he married Deanna Tynes.

Three years later, Deanna threatened to end their marriage if Favre didn't overcome another debilitating habit: alcohol abuse, the same thing that proved to be a main cause of his leaving the Atlanta Falcons.

He overcame that.

Then, in a four year period, the Favre's together showed the character to endure the loss of Brett's father, Irv, Deanna's brother Casey and her stepfather, Rocky Byrd, both passing away, Deanna suffering, then surviving breast cancer, and the destruction of Favre's home during Hurricane Katrina, which also put the lives of many family members at stake.

How did the Favre's respond?

Favre following his father's death with, 28 hours later, his best career performance against Oakland.

Millions donated through the Favre Fourward Foundation and the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, including $912,000 for hurricane victims.

And when others came suffering, the Favre's responded in so many ways, whether it was a child suffering an incurable disease that Brett inspired through one conversation and years of subsequent prayer and follow-up (making him choke up at a press conference this past December), countless letters answered to fans with inspiring words, or lots of acts that will never see the light of public consumption.

All this part of the journey Brett Favre, the husband, father to Brittany and Breleigh, football player, and community leader, has made from a rookie partyboy to a difference-making legend.

Brett's NFL Records

Perhaps the most impressive reason to "Canton-ize" Brett Favre immediately, as Larry McCarren called for nine years ago: a host of NFL regular season records Favre now owns.

Those include:
- Most attempts: 8,758
- Most completions: 5,377
- Most passing yards: 61,665 (the equivalent of 35.07 miles)
- Most touchdown passes: 442
- Most wins by a starting QB: 160
- Most consecutive starts by a quarterback: 253
- Most Associated Press MVP Awards: 3
- Most seasons leading NFL in touchdown passes: 4 (tied with three others)
- Most seasons, 3,000+ yards passing: 16
- Most consecutive NFL postseason games with a touchdown pass: 18
- Most postseason passing yards: 5,311
- Longest pass completion: 99 yards, to Robert Brooks at Chicago, 1995

And, yes:
- Most interceptions: 288

Favre's Durability

Favre has overcome injuries from badly sprained ankles, to broken thumbs, to major knee issues, to broken hearts caused by the death of his father to his wife's breast cancer diagnosis.

Still, the impressiveness of his consecutive-starts-at-quarterback streak can be expressed by the fact that 409 other quarterbacks have started games in the NFL over the 16-year span of his streak.

Not including the fact a great number of those 409 have started for multiple teams, that would translate to more than 12 starting quarterback changes for each team.

11 of those quarterbacks have been backups for Favre: Aaron Brooks, Steve Bono, Mark Brunell, Ty Detmer, Matt Hasselbeck, Don Majkowski, Jim McMathon, Doug Pederson, T.J. Rubley, J.T. O'Sullivan and Danny Wuerffel.

For even more perspective, the archrival Chicago Bears have had 13 starters face the Packers alone in that time, and have made 51 starting quarterback changes in Favre's 16-year tenure.

Perhaps there's something to Brett's longevity and consistency in this rivalry: the Packers are 22-10 against Chicago in Favre's career, including a 13-3 mark at Soldier Field, even better than his 165-105 record at home (including Milwaukee games.)

What Hasn't Brett Done?

In truth, there isn't much that Brett Favre hasn't accomplished.

When it comes to consecutive starts played at any position, Favre trails only Jim Marshall, a defensive end from the Minnesota Vikings who started 270 consecutive games from 1961-79.

Only John Elway has produced more fourth-quarter or overtime comeback victories than Favre. Elway has 47 over his Hall of Fame career, while Favre owns 40.

Dan Marino stands as the only quarterback with more games with four or more touchdown passes in a career, with 21. Favre has 19.

Marino and Peyton Manning have the most consecutive games with four touchdown passes, with six. Favre stands behind them with five.

Favre stands second all time in consecutive games with touchdown passes, with 36. Johnny Unitas owns that mark, with 47.

Favre's Postseason CV

One of Brett Favre's greatest legacies in Green Bay has to do with Brett Favre turning the Packers from an NFL also-ran into a perennial playoff contender.

Before Favre's arrival in 1992, teamed with general manager Ron Wolf and coach Mike Holmgren, the Packers had made the playoffs twice in 24 years, and one of those seasons, 1982, was a strike-shortened year where 16 of 28 teams made the playoffs.

Since then, Favre has delivered the Packers to the playoffs 11 times in his 16 seasons, and he has a 12-10 record in the postseason.

Only Joe Montana (23) has played in more playoff games than Favre (22), and only Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and John Elway have more playoff victories than Favre's 12.

Besides, and partially because of, interceptions, the one category where Favre perhaps doesn't stack up among the all-time greatest quarterbacks: championships.

In fact, a Packers quarterback owns the record: Bart Starr (1961-62, 1965-67)

Who else has more among starting quarterbacks? How about 18 others:
- Troy Aikman (Dallas 1992-93, 95)
- Sammy Baugh (Washington 1937, 42)
- Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh 1974-75, 78-79)
- Tom Brady (New England 2001, 03-04)
- Red Dunn (Green Bay 1929-30)
- John Elway (Denver 1997-98)
- Otto Graham (Cleveland 1950, 54-55)
- Bob Griese (Miami 1972-73)
- Arnie Herber (Green Bay 1931, 36)
- Bobby Layne (Detroit 1952-53)
- Sid Luckman (Chicago 1940-41, 43, 46)
- Joe Montana (San Francisco 1981, 84, 88-89)
- Jim Plunkett (Oakland/L.A. Raiders 1980, 83)
- Phil Simms (N.Y. Giants 1986, 90*)
- Roger Staubach (Dallas 1971, 77)
- Tommy Thompson (Philadelphia 1948-49)
- Johnny Unitas (Baltimore, 1958-59, 70)
- Norm Van Brocklin (Los Angeles 1951, Philadelphia 1960)
* = starter for majority of regular season; Jeff Hostetler quarterbacked the team in Super Bowl XXV due to Simms' injury.

Brett's Biggest Day - Super Bowl XXXI

Still, that one Super Bowl victory, in the game's 31st edition against New England in January 1997, remains his hallmark victory.

In fact, few quarterbacks may have ever had a better half on football's biggest stage.

Twice in the first stanza, Favre delivered touchdown passes on line-of-scrimage audibles.

The first time came on Green Bay's first offensive series, when Favre switched to a pass play with Andre Rison running a post pattern.

The problem was, Rison was in the wrong position in the formation when Favre called the audible.

In truth, it was no problem. Favre found Rison open for a 54-yard touchdown pass to give Green Bay the early 7-0 lead.

After the Patriots answered back with two first-quarter scores to take a 14-10 lead, the Packers answered back when Favre made another change of plays at the line.

Seeing safety coverage on Antonio Freeman in the formation, he sent Freeman deep on a fly pattern and hit him in stride for a then-Super Bowl record setting 81-yard touchdown pass to give Green Bay a 17-14 lead that it would not relinquish.

Near the end of the first half, Favre did a rare sprint-option scramble to the left, and as he was angled out of bounds, he stretched his arm out to put the football beyond the end zone pylon to score a touchdown that produced a 27-14 halftime lead.

That advantage stood up, thanks to a Desmond Howard 99-yard kickoff return touchdown and three second-half sacks by Reggie White, in a 35-21 win that gave Green Bay its 12th NFL championship.

Favre's Place in History

Even among the list of 19 quarterbacks with more championships than Favre, there aren't many who could stand next to him on the all-time quarterback pantheon, and perhaps fewer that could go down as the most beloved player in the sport's history.

Picking a "Mount Rushmore" of NFL signalcallers stands as a subjective task for fans and pundits to debate as long as the National Football League exists.

But consider how beloved he is, because of the way he played the game and how he touched people beyond the field.

- In 2006, coming off his worst statistical season, he still topped the Harris Poll as the nation's favorite football player, ranking third over all athletes behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. He'd ranked number one in the same poll in 2004 and '04.

- In February 2004, USA Today named him the "Toughest Athlete in Sports."

- In March 2004, Brett took the honor as the "Toughest Guy in America" based on his "fearlessness, perseverance, a willingness to take risks, a tolerance for pain and even a dash of modesty."

- Discovery Channel's 2005 nationwide vote brought him to 89th among its historical review of the "100 Greatest Americans."

- Finally, Favre took in perhaps the ultimate nod for his on-and-off-the-field contributions, earning the 2007 Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" award.

Perhaps its the entire thought of all Favre accomplished, even nine years ago, that made McCarren utter his statement, "they ought to put him into Canton right now."

And why the grand majority of Packers Nation, let alone the whole NFL community, might agree.