From Legacy to Legend: A Tribute to Brett Favre

Brett Favre. Brett Favre. Brett Favre. The name rings synonymous with so many things: 17 seasons in the NFL, most touchdowns ever thrown by any quarterback, most passing yards by any quaterback, most interceptions, most consecutive starts, etc., etc., etc. The name implies strength, courage, toughness and more.

Like many of Packer Nation, I was disgruntled, upset, even mad when I first read the news of Brett’s retirement today (March 4, 2008). I wondered how he could leave now. He had an awesome year last year, only leaving room for improvement, and possibly a run for the Superbowl. He had a young team that had matured early. He had excellent receivers in Driver, Jones, Jennings, and Robinson. Ryan Grant showed he can run. Brett had everything working in his favor. I was upset, the football player I had grown to love would now be gone. It seemed like there was nothing to live for anymore.

After I let the news of the day sink in, I started thinking, Legacy to Legend. Legacy to Legend. That was the path Brett Favre made for himself. As I thought more, it became clear, now more than ever was the time for the Field General to hang it up. To call it quits. To say, I’m only going this far, and no more. Why such the big change? I looked back at the accomplishments that have defined his career, amazing numbers, amazing obstacles overcome, and an amazing person (though I have never met him). I looked at the enjoyment he brought people on Sundays, the love for the game he brought to the table. What more could he have accomplished in coming back for another year? He could have won another Superbowl. That is possible, but there is only a 3% chance of that happening. Not great odds if you ask me. Not that I doubt he could do it, he is Brett Favre, put a football in his hands and anything is possible. But would it be worth all the other risks, just to satisfy his fans or improve his Hall of Fame resume? I hardly believe it. Yes winning a Superbowl is the most desired outcome of any team, any person. But one has to look at the other factors. Brett Favre may be young at heart, he may still be able to play, but you can’t argue that he is old for a football player, 39 years old. At that age, most players are retired by now. At that age, the body is more susceptible to injury. If you ask me, deciding to come back for another season, and possibly having a season ending injury, to end a great career isn’t worth it. To know that I went out on the top of my game is what I would want. That is what Brett Favre did, left on his own terms. If he had come back, and they had a dismal season, would it have been worth it? Would it have been worth it to exhaust himself day in and day out preparing for the season, working harder than he had before, only to have a mediocre season? To me, the risks outweighed the benefits, with the only benefit being a Superbowl win. Yes, he could have added to his records, but what would that have gotten him? Maybe a pat on the back and keep up the good work? No no, he left at the seemingly best time possible. With his last season, he paved the road from Legacy to Legend.

Now that he will no longer be a threat in the NFL, we have to ask ourselves, what did he leave? What was his legacy? Was he the best player ever to play the game? Throughout the years, there have been great players that have come and gone with the wind. People remember them for their on-the-field performance, but what about their entire person, their mentality? I don’t think any player has left such an impact on the game as Brett Favre. As a kid when I watched him play, I only knew of his on the field play, nothing else. So when I would play neighborhood football, I would always want to imitate Brett. As I got older, I began to learn more about WHO he was, not WHAT he was. The most evident characteristic, was his love for the game. Every Sunday, and the many Mondays, when I watched him play, it wasn’t about him. It was about the game. If he didn’t get to throw the ball as much as he wanted, he wouldn’t snivel and cry, he would put his all into a simple little run play. That was evident by his many over exaggerated fake throws, fake hand-offs, etc. Here was a man that did what was necessary to win. That is evident by his 253 consecutive starts, 275 with the playoffs. He would keep the play alive until the last minute trying to make something happen, and even sometimes the result was “What was he thinking?” But that is it, he was trying to win, and he would do anything required to win, including low-success plays. He always had a smile on his face, a smile of a child still in amazement that he even got the opportunity to play. It was for this reason that so many children looked up to him. A model figure, worthy of being replicated. His impact on the game has been tremendous, as indicated by the words of Randy Moss “This is Brett Favre right here, I gotta see this, this is Brett Favre.”

But the question still remains, is he the greatest player to ever play? In my biased opinion, I would say yes. But let us look at this in an unbiased way. Many, many agree he is in the top five players of all time, or QBs if we are being selective. I can see that. He has the numbers, the performance, and a Superbowl. If he had another Superbowl, many say he would be the greatest. But despite that fact, I still believe he is the greatest. To determine greatness, one has to look at other factors besides numbers. Yes numbers do tell all, but what did the person have to go through to get those numbers? Was it an easy ride, or was if full of hills and obstacles. Brett Favre’s path was the latter. It was never an easy road for him. He was drafted by the Falcons, traded to the Packers, as a cocky youngin. Little did he know that his career was going to be difficult, filled with addictions, death, pain and sickness. Yet despite his addiction to pain killers and alcohol, the death of his dad, the death of his wife’s brother, the diagnosis of cancer for his wife, the numerous injuries on the field, the unsurmountable pain, he played on. For sure, people thought he wouldn’t play on December 22, 2003, the day after his father died. But come game time, number four trotted out on the field, and gave a spectacular performance for the ages, 399 yards and 4 touchdowns, in three quarters. Some thought that after his fight with pain killers, his play would go down hill, but he won a Superbowl the next year. It is for reasons like these that Brett Favre is greatest player of all time. He overcame spectacular odds, to do something so much more spectacular.

Now as Favre sits at his home, reflecting on his career, we do the same. I only hope that we don’t tarnish this Legend’s career by saying he could have played another year, he had it in him, and now he has left his team to hang. Yes he could have played another year, but he didn’t want to. I hope that in the days ahead, we will look at this surefire Hall of Famer’s career and appreciate it with the utmost respect. After all, it isn’t everyday that a person gets to be in the company of Marino, Unitas, Elway, and Montana. It was only a certain amount of time before Favre would cross the barrier from Legacy to Legend.