Brett Favre Discusses Parkinson’s Disease on Latest Podcast

NFL legend Brett Favre recently shared insights regarding his ongoing struggle with Parkinson’s disease during his podcast. He revealed that he received his diagnosis in September 2024 while testifying on welfare reform in Congress. Since that point, he’s been engaged in a challenging fight against the illness.

Favre also mentioned Philip Rivers’ decision to make a comeback at age 44, expressing that he believes Rivers could have played into his fifties. He added that he had been training hard until he faced his own health challenges.

“I think like many people, I assumed there was only one kind of Parkinson’s disease. But, actually, there are various forms,” he explained. Favre identified his type as idiopathic Parkinson’s, which is the most common. His experiences have led him to understand that the symptoms often associated with Parkinson’s, such as tremors, can be misleading. “Some people think that if you don’t have tremors, it’s not that serious. I do have some tremors occasionally, but they’re infrequent. I’ve come to realize that my diagnosis mainly impacts my cognitive functions and memory,” he noted. He also shared that stiffness and rigidity are significant aspects of his condition.

On a daily basis, Favre described waking up feeling very rigid until he takes his medication. “Before my medication, I feel like I’m as stiff as a board. After taking them, it helps alleviate the tightness in my muscles and joints. As the day goes on, I do shake a little, mostly when I’m tired,” he added. He is aware there’s no cure and though he hears about possible treatments in the future, he remains cautiously optimistic about them.

Favre, now 56, enjoyed an illustrious career in the NFL, playing from 1991 to 2010 for teams like the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings. He recorded impressive stats with 71,838 passing yards and 508 touchdown passes, clinching one Super Bowl title with the Packers.