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Brett Favre's huge heart that delivered record upon record, a Super Bowl Championship, 40 career comeback victories and thousands of memories among millions of Packers fans.

It's also brought Favre full circle in a way that's allowed us all to see the maturity from a party-loving kid to one of sports' most engaging and revered difference-makers off the field..

In 1991, Falcons coach Jerry Glanville had no reason to play, and every reason to trade a backup quarterback named Favre, since often, he spent too much time partying, and not enough time working.

A year later with the Packers, the party boy started his addiction to vicodin, one he played with through 1995.

Brett and Deanna Favre during his annual charity softball game in 2005. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Then he went into rehabilitation, determined to finally kick the habit, to a point where would not take pain medication for any bump or bruise. That same year, he married longtime sweetheart Deanna Tynes in the same year he won a Super Bowl.

Three years later, she threatened to leave him if he didn't solve his drinking problem, and as he led comebacks on the field, including three over a period of 29 days with touchdown passes in the final two minutes, he tearfully came to grips with his drunken demons, and he and came back to clean up his inner life.

It's a change that would strengthen him in challenges such as his father dying in a car crash before the Packers-Raiders game in 2003.

He would tearfully address his teammates that evening while they prepared in Oakland, and in front of a national television audience, he delivered his finest statistical performance - 22-30 for 399 yards and four touchdowns, with 311 yards and three scoring passes in the first half, and an overall team-record passer rating of 154.9.

In October 2004, his brother-in-law Casey Tynes suffered a similar fate as his father, when Casey crashed his ATV. One week later, Deanna discovered that she had breast cancer.

10 months later, on August 29th, Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast region, destroying Favre's boyhood home in Kiln, MS, and putting the very lives of many family members at stake.

"It is extremely difficult right now, probably as difficult as any time in my career," said Brett in a press conference following the natural disaster.

Favre and Titans quarterback Steve McNair, who's from the same area, organized a large relief effort, and Favre's Fourward Foundation made a $912,000 donation to help with hurricane relief efforts.

"This is the least we could do," said Favre. "I wish we could be there to offer all the support we can."

Then in July 2007, a guy who was like a second father, his wife's stepfather, Rocky Byrd, died of a heart attack, forcing Favre to leave training camp prematurely.

Misty Malley of Favre's hometown of Kiln, MS, sorting through clothes donated during a drive to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. | Photo: AP As evidenced by how Favre handled his father's death and Hurricane Katrina, through every struggle, the Favre's came through like champions

"For them to share the things that have gone on throughout their life, to try to educate and help others, I think that shows the character of both," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

They've used their foundations, the Fourward Foundation and the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, to save lives of breast cancer victims, those who suffered from Katrina, and hundreds of other charities.

Who knows of all the people Brett's touched, like Anna Welentowski, a girl with an incurable brain disease. Her Mom, Jennifer, saw how Brett simply uplifted her with a conversation.

"Brett and Anna certainly had a connection," said Jennifer.

"Her visit with Brett and the Packers that day was definitely a day of light...nothing short of amazing."

And their families remained in touch, three years later.

Even Koren Robinson, the Packers wide receiver who had to endure a year-long suspension for circumstances connected to substance abuse, came to Favre for help, and received countless inspiration .

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.

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