Brett Favre is a 3-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl Champion, and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He had a 20-year NFL career and started 297 straight games as a quarterback. He also recently told Sports Illustrated that he went to rehab 3 times for painkillers and alcohol during his career. He spent 28 days, 28 days, and 72 days, in rehabilitation centers 3 separate times during the 1990s. From 1995-1997 he won 3 straight MVP awards.
Could these revelations impact the legacy of one of the most popular quarterbacks in NFL history? The majority of fans knew he went to rehab once in the 90s, but the knowledge of two more visits could hurt his image. Favre was a popular player for the way he played the game. He always made jokes and had fun playing football. We forget sometimes that football is just a game and when he was at his best, Brett Favre played the game the right way.
His visits to rehab might make fans think twice about what was going on behind the scenes. Thank goodness for his wife and kids that he overcame addiction. His 3 trips to rehab show that dependence on painkillers and alcohol are very real things, even for pro athletes. These revelations about Brett Favre might start a new conversation about addiction in this country. Many people suffer from addiction, whether it’s opioid, alcohol, or any other harmful substance.
Brett Favre caused controversy before in 2008 when he retired from the NFL, then unretired. The Packers traded him to the New York Jets. After the 2008 season he retired. Then the he returned to play, again. He joined the Minnesota Vikings and many Packer fans were heart-broken. His retirement saga was damaging towards the end of his career. He played the game the way it should be played. But he left the game in poor fashion. Since his final retirement, Favre has been inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So, no, this story might not hurt Favre’s football legacy. There are many stories like this out there. It can also affect anyone. In our society we tend to put pro athletes on too high a pedestal. And stories like these remind us that they’re human just like us. Many athletes in many sports have battled addiction. Cris Carter is another Pro Football Hall of Famer who struggled with addiction. It's important that we take these stories seriously. If there is someone you know who struggles with addiction, let them know you are there to help. Brett Favre’s story shows that there is always a way to seek treatment and get help, no matter how many times it takes.
