WASHINGTON (AP) — Brett Favre has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the retired NFL quarterback himself said on Tuesday before a United States congressional committee during his testimony on a scandal involving millions of dollars in misused social welfare funds in Mississippi.
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Favre, 55 years old and who is not facing criminal charges in this case, has returned over 1 million dollars that he received as fees for conferences funded by a social assistance program in the state. Additionally, the retired athlete was an investor in a biotechnology company linked to the case.
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The reasons for Favre's testimony
The former Green Bay Packers star told the commission that he lost his investment in a company that, he believed, "was going to develop a new medicine for concussions that would help others."
"As you will surely understand, although it is already late for me, I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's. This is a cause that is close to my heart," said Favre.
The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, and it is not clear whether Favre's disorder is related to his career in American football or to head injuries. In 2022, the former quarterback stated that he estimated having suffered "thousands" of concussions during his decades in the NFL.
According to the Parkinson's Foundation, scientists believe that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The latter "could include head injuries, exposure to pesticides, or living in certain places."
In the 2022 interview, Favre said that he initially thought the number of concussions he had suffered while playing football was low. However, he mentioned that he had realized it could have been much higher once he learned about those cases and understood that they can occur without someone losing consciousness.
During a game in 2004, Favre suffered a concussion but returned after missing only two plays. He then threw a touchdown pass without being cleared to play again.
Favre appeared before a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, under Republican control, to discuss reforms to the federal social assistance system to prevent fraud.
"The situation that my family and I have had to face in the last three years — given that certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal funds from acts of fraud and waste, and are trying to unfairly blame me, that situation has tarnished my good name and exceeds the worst I faced in my football career," said Favre.
Favre claims that he was unaware that the payments he received came from social assistance funds and emphasized that his charity foundation has distributed millions of dollars in aid to underprivileged children in his native Mississippi and in Wisconsin, where he spent most of his career with the Packers.
After playing for the University of Southern Mississippi, Favre began his long career with the Packers, winning Super Bowl XXXI. He was traded to the New York Jets in 2008 before playing his final two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.