Brett Favre Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis, Renewing Debate on Football and Brain Disease

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre stunned the nation on Tuesday when he announced during a congressional hearing that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The revelation came as Favre was testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee in Washington D.C. about his alleged misuse of taxpayer money in a Mississippi welfare scandal.

Favre, 54, made the disclosure while discussing his involvement in a biotech company, Prevacus, which he believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug. “Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others, and I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Favre said, visibly emotional.

Favre’s announcement immediately reignited the ongoing debate about the potential link between football and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. The former Green Bay Packers star played 20 seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl and three consecutive MVP awards during his tenure with the Packers. In a 2022 interview, Favre estimated that he had suffered “thousands” of concussions throughout his career.

“I think there’s some memory issues, I think sometimes my speech is affected. Is that a result of the concussions and football or just being over 50? And maybe the answer is a little bit of both,” Favre told The Megyn Kelly Show last month.

Research has shown a correlation between repetitive head trauma and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, as well as other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). A study published last year in JAMA Network Open found that former football players were 61% more likely to report a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis or parkinsonism symptoms compared to those who played other sports.

“We know that the brain can only take so much, and when there’s this kind of trauma—not even just sports-related, but any kind of repeated trauma to the brain—we know it’s going to affect it down the line,” said Shannon Shaffer, a nurse practitioner at the Cleveland Clinic.

Favre’s diagnosis comes at a time when the NFL and other sports organizations are facing increasing scrutiny over their handling of head injuries. Many former players, including Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, have been diagnosed with CTE post-mortem, prompting calls for better concussion protocols and long-term health monitoring for athletes.

Favre’s testimony before Congress was focused on his role in a welfare scandal in Mississippi, where he was accused of improperly using political connections to redirect public money to his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, and his own pocket. Favre repaid over $1 million in speaking fees funded by the state’s welfare program and was also an investor in Prevacus, which was developing concussion treatments.

Despite the scandal, Favre insisted that he did nothing wrong and only later found out that the money he received came from taxpayer funds. “I had no way of knowing that there was anything wrong with how the state funded the project, especially since it was publicly approved by many state agencies and multiple attorneys, including the attorney general,” he said.

As Favre’s diagnosis becomes public knowledge, many are now wondering if his years on the football field contributed to his current health situation. While there is no definitive link between Favre’s Parkinson’s and his football career, the debate is sure to continue as more research is conducted on the long-term effects of head trauma in athletes.

For Favre, the news of his diagnosis is undoubtedly devastating. But it also serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of playing a sport that has long been celebrated for its physicality and toughness. As the NFL and other sports organizations continue to grapple with the issue of head injuries, Favre’s story will undoubtedly add fuel to the fire, urging them to take action to protect their athletes from the long-term effects of concussions.