Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The former quarterback, 54, made the shocking announcement while testifying before Congress Tuesday about the misspending of welfare money in Mississippi.
While speaking to the House Ways and Means Committee, Favre claimed he had no idea his home state used Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare funds to pay him over $1 million for speaking engagements.
“The challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years because of certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse — and are unjustifiably trying to blame me — those challenges have hurt my good name and are worse than anything I have faced in football,” Favre said.
Although there is a gag order prohibiting the former athlete from “discussing the specifics of the lawsuit,” he explained how he got involved in the messy situation before revealing his health update.
“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 told lawmakers.
“This is also a cause dear to my heart,” he continued. “Recently, the doctor, running the company pleaded guilty to taking TANF money for his own use.”
Although the former football player didn’t go into more detail about his diagnosis, he said he “believes [he] got swept up in a civil lawsuit” by politicians trying to “advance [their] own political careers.”
Parkinson’s disease is an incurable movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time, per the Mayo Clinic.
It causes unintended or uncontrollable movements such as shaking and difficulty with balance and coordination. It can also impact speech.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, “having suffered a single concussion in one’s lifetime increased the likelihood of later being diagnosed with the neurological disease by 57%.”
Favre, who played 20 seasons in the NFL, previously stated that he likely suffered “thousands” of concussions during his lengthy career.
During an August 2022 appearance on “The Bubba Army” radio show, the former athlete admitted that “concussions happen all the time” during the physical game — whether they are diagnosed or not.
“You get tackled and your head hits the turf, you see flashes of light or ringing in your ears but you’re able to play. That’s a concussion,” he explained.
“So, based on that, thousands. Had to be, because every time my head hit the turf, there was ringing or stars going, flash bulbs . . . but I was still able to play.”
