Brett Favre reportedly asked for welfare money to help recruit Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur, to his alma mater in 2019.
The retired NFL quarterback is under fire for receiving $5 million in welfare funds to build a volleyball court for his daughter at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2017.
According to text messages in court documents, Favre asked former governor Phil Bryant for more money to recruit Shedeur Sanders to the school.
“I need your influence somehow to get donations and or sponsorships,” Favre texted Bryant. “Obviously Southern has no money so I’m hustling to get it raised.”
The young quarterback eventually signed with Jackson State after his famous father was named head coach there.
Favre’s attorneys say their client had no idea the money came from welfare funds. But text messages show Favre was informed of the source of the money multiple times.
In other text messages, Favre directly referred to the 2017 funding for his daughter’s volleyball court, which came from a fund for needy families that was misappropriated by Nancy New through her nonprofit.
“I want you to know how much I love Nancy New and John Davis,” Favre texted. “What they have done for me and Southern Miss is amazing.”
Nancy New, her son, Zachary, and John Davis, former director of Mississippi’s welfare agency, all pled guilty to misspending government funds. Davis was sentenced to 32 years in prison last week.
New and her son are awaiting sentencing.
Favre and Bryant have not been charged.
