Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre gave an emotional update on his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Favre, 56, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in September 2024. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that robs people of control over their bodies.
Favre gave an update a year after his diagnosis on his podcast. The three-time MVP explained that he’s in the early stages of the disease that affects the nervous system and gets worse with time.
“I’m probably like most people – I thought there was just one Parkinson’s and that was it. There’s not. There’s multiple, many forms of Parkinson’s,” he said. “And I have what’s called idiopathic, which is the most common.”
He explained the different stages of idiopathic Parkinson’s that causes rigidity and stiffness in his limbs.
“So, when I wake up in the morning, before I take my medicine, I’m as close to a 2 by 4 [lumber] as you could possibly get. And once I take my medicine, it’s like the muscles and the joints kind of ease their grip on me.”
“When I get fatigued, mainly toward the end of the day, I do shake a little bit. My cognitive memory – part of it, right now it’s OK,” he continued.
“As you well know, there’s no cure. I hear from time to time, ‘Well, they’re five years away from a cure.’ I hope that that’s the case. But I’m not holding my breath.”
Social media users on X interpreted his statement to mean he’s giving up all hope of winning his battle with Parkinson’s.
Favre was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, following his stellar career as a quarterback in the NFL. He won three consecutive NFL MVP awards from 1995 to 1997.
In 2022, Favre was accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in welfare funds intended for needy families in Mississippi.
According to text messages, Favre asked former governor Phil Bryant for welfare money to recruit Shedeur Sanders to the University of Southern Mississippi.
Favre vigorously denied the allegations. He threatened to sue Dr. Umar Johnson for accusing him of robbing poor people to fund an athletic club in Mississippi.
Favre was never charged with any wrongdoing. He was allowed to repay millions of dollars and the matter was closed.
