Memories of Brett Favre

Brett Favre was a childhood institution of sorts for me.  There are many memories that I have of Favre, along with all the memorabilia I have of his.

During my early childhood, I was a Cleveland Browns and it hurt like heck when Art Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore in 1995.  I knew the next best thing to do was to pick up another team to root for.  The Green Bay Packers and Favre was an up and coming team, and given the historic history the team, I grew a lot of interest towards the team.  The next three years went great for the Packers and Favre, and it helped to relief some of the pain of not having the Browns.  I began collecting Packers-Favre memorabilia, such as his jersey and figurines.

I remember having indoor recess in 5th grade on the Friday before the NFC Divisional (Jan. 1996).  The guys would gather at a table in Mr. Hinman's classroom at Woodford Elementary to play paper football.  When I joined in, PJ asked me what playoff team I wanted to be and I said I would take the Packers.  Mr. Hinman went on to ban paper football in his room, due to the footballs being left behind.

I loved showing off my support of the Packers and Favre during my years at U.L. Light Middle School (1996-99).  The Dallas Cowboys, who were just coming off three Super Bowl championships in four seasons, were a popular team among my classmates.  We would argue back and forth over who the real "America's Team" was.  Among the big Cowboys fans I can remember were Brett Fogle, Chris Lee, and Roger Martin.

Among the biggest Packers fans I know are my Hanshaw cousins Brent, Jeanna, and Teresa.  Brent and Teresa were Packers fans before the Favre era, while Teresa gained interest during the 2^nd half of Favre’s career.

The Browns came back as I started at Barberton High School in 1999.  The Browns and the Packers became my co-favorite teams.  I continued to pull for the Packers and Favre during my college years, beginning in 2003.  Favre had his share of family issues, with the death of his father (Irv) and brother-in-law, in addition to his wife (Deanna) being placed on chemo.  I admired the way he played through this, plus all of the nagging injuries.  I graduated from the University of Akron in December 2008, three months after QB Aaron Rodgers made his first start for the Packers.  Packers’ fans are definitely spoiled to be able to transition from one great QB to another.

Remembering Brett Favre's Career

Brett Favre attended Southern Mississippi and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991 (2nd round, 34th overall).  He spent that season as the 3rd QB.  Favre and head coach Jerry Glanville didn't get along, leading to his trade to Green Bay in 1992.  The Packers were rebuilding with new GM Ron Wolf and new head coach Mike Holmgren.  Favre became the 2nd QB behind Don Majkowski.  

Majkowski injured himself during the 3rd game in 1992 and Favre took over.  Favre led the Packers to a come from behind win and went on to start the next 275 games.  The Packers finished the year 9-7, just missing the playoffs.  The Packers made the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons in 1993.  In 1994, Favre had a break out year with 33 TD passes, most of them to star WR Sterling Sharpe.  Favre made his first Pro Bowl, but Sharpe had to retire after the season due to an injury.  The Packers were eliminated in the NFC Divisional Round in 1993 and 1994. 

The next three years are considered the three best of Favre's career. 

In 1995, Favre won the NFL MVP and led the Packers to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1967, which was the end of the Lombardi era.  He set the NFC record for 38 TD passes.  In 1996, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI, with Favre winning a 2nd MVP and throwing for 39 TD passes.  In 1997, the Packers lost Super Bowl XXXII, with Favre winning a record 3rd straight MVP (he shared the MVP with Detroit Lions RB Barry Sanders) and throwing for 39 TD passes.

The Packers finished 11-5 and lost in the NFC Wild Card in 1998, with Favre having another big year.  In 1999 and 2000, the Packers took a step back, finishing 8-8 and 9-7, missing the postseason both year and Favre's interceptions increased.  The Packers finished strong in 2000 and in 2001; the Packers went 12-4, making it to the NFC Divisional Round.  In 2002, the Packers finished 12-4 again, but lost their first ever home postseason game in the NFC Wild Card.  In 2003, the Packers finished 10-6 and made it to the NFC Divisional Round.  In 2004, the Packers finished 11-5 and were eliminated in the NFC Wild Card. 

In the 2005 NFL Draft, the Packers drafted QB Aaron Rodgers as the heir to Favre's throne.  The bottom fell out in 2005, as the Packers finished 4-12, which was Favre's first losing season.  Favre led the NFL in interceptions that year as many of his key RBs and WRs were injured.  Many thought that Favre's career was done, but he decided to come back.  Favre was criticized for putting off his decision until April.  In 2006, the Packers started out 4-8, but went on to win their last four games to finish 8-8.  Favre once again hinted that he may retire, but the late season momentum was too great.  In 2007, the Packers finished 13-3, losing the NFC Championship Game in OT.  Favre was named to another Pro Bowl.  Favre decided that this was enough and announced his first retirement in March 2008.

Later in the year, Favre decided to come out of retirement, but the Packers decided to move on to Rodgers.  He went on to play three more seasons with the N.Y. Jets (2008) and Minnesota Vikings (2009-10).  Favre started strong in 2008 before nagging injuries got to him the last five games.  Favre had a Pro Bowl season in 2009 leading the Vikings to the postseason, but he struggled throughout the 2010 season and decided it was time to hang up the cleats for good.  Favre went on to start in 297 games, a record that will probably never be broken at the QB position.

On February 6, 2016, Favre was nominated to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame in his first year of eligibility.  The induction ceremony took placed on August 6 in Canton, with Deanna as the presenter.

Most Memorable Brett Favre Games

The 10 games that I will most remember Brett Favre for:

1. Packers at Oakland Raiders, 12/22/2003 (MNF): Favre's father passed away from a sudden heart attack the day before the game.  Instead of sitting this one out, Favre took his extra emotion out on the Raiders, lighting them up all evening.  I remember Favre running from a DL and heaving up a Hail Mary pass that was caught for a TD.  The Packers won 41-7.

2. Minnesota Vikings at Packers, 11/6/2000 (MNF): In OT, Packers WR Antonio Freeman slipped on the mud, causing Favre's pass to hit Freeman's leg.  The ball then bounced in the air and was caught.  Freeman then managed to stay off his knees, rolling back on to his feet and into the end zone.  The Packers won the game 26-20.  It was one of the greatest plays I ever seen.

3. New England Patriots vs. Packers, 1/26/1997 (Super Bowl XXXI): This was Favre's only Super Bowl win, bringing the Lombardi trophy "home" for the first time since Lombardi coached the team in Jan. 1968.  Favre dived for a TD at the end of the 1st half, but KR Desmond Howard made the biggest plays of the game, returning both a punt and kickoff for a TD.

4. Seattle Seahawks at Packers, 1/12/2008 (NFC Divisional): In what turned out to be Favre's last win, he and RB Ryan Grant helped to lead the Packers back from an early 14-0 deficit.  The heavy snow didn't bother Favre and he had an amazing "jump and twirl" move over a Seahawks defender for a first down.  The Packers won 42-20.

5. Packers at Chicago Bears, 12/31/2006 (SNF): The game was meaningless as far as the 2006 NFL playoff picture went, but it meant a lot from a momentum standpoint.  After the Packers began 4-8, this win allowed them to finish this season 8-8, leading into a strong 2007 season.  Favre became emotional when being interviewed by NBC sideline reporter, Andrea Cramer, after the game.  This led many to believe that Favre had played his last game.  A few weeks later, Favre announced he would return for 2007.

6. Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 12/24/2004: This was a winner take all game for the 2004 NFC North title.  The Packers began the season 1-4 and the Vikings were favored to win this Christmas Eve game.  After trailing 31-24 half way through the 4^th quarter, Favre threw a TD pass to WR Donald Driver to tie the game.  On the following possession, Favre led the Packers down the field again and K Ryan Longwell kicked the game winning field goal.

7. Packers at San Francisco 49ers, Jan. 1996 (NFC Divisional): I don't remember many of the details of this game, but I believe the Packers won 27-13.  After three straight years of NFC Championship games between the 49ers-Cowboys, this game allowed the Packers to break through as an NFC power.

8. Carolina Panthers at Packers, Jan. 1997 (NFC Championship): The Packers won 30-13, winning their first NFC Championship since 1967.  I don't remember much about this game other than the Halas trophy presentation following the game.

9. N.Y. Giants at Packers, 1/20/2008: This turned out to be Favre's last game and the only lost on this list.  Favre and Giants QB Eli Manning fought neck and neck until the end of the game.  After missing two kicks, Giants K Lawrence Tynes made the game winning FG in OT.  It turned out to be his last game in a Packers uniform.

10. San Francisco 49ers at Packers, 10/14/1996 (MNF): Packers WR Robert Brooks suffered a season ending knee injury on their first play from scrimmage.  The Packers trailed at the half, 17-6, but behind a huge game from QB Brett Favre and WR Don Beebe, the Packers take the game to OT.  This game end as Packers K Chris Jacke kicked the game winning field goal. 

Notes:

1. Favre had many other memorable games, but these only include the games that I saw Favre play.

2. I really didn't pay much attention to Favre before late in the 1995 season; therefore I didn't mention any games prior to this point.  Favre's first game in Sept. 1992 was big for pre-Favre Packers fans, but no one else gave a crap about it when it happened.  At the time, I was a casual Browns fan that rooted for QB Bernie Kosar and paid little attention to other teams.  Also, the Packers played two games every season at Milwaukee's County Stadium through 1994.  Favre led a comeback in the last game played there.

3. I remember three of the first four games of the 1999 season being very thrilling.  Favre led come from behind wins in all of those at Lambeau Field.  However, the Packers struggled down the stretch and finished 8-8, which diminished the impact of these games.