Brett Favre has retired

[NicoleWasHere]

The most storied quarterback career in NFL history is coming to a close.

The Green Bay Packers have confirmed a story first reported by FOXSports.com that Brett Favre, the NFL's all-time career passing leader, has decided to retire.

"Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL," Packers GM Ted Thompson said in a statement released by the team. "He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms — not many players are able to do that.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever. ... The uniqueness of Brett Favre — his personality, charisma and love of the game — undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

The team scheduled an afternoon news conference with Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy, and said it was unsure when Favre might address the media.

After flirting with retirement for the last few years, Favre will finally go out on the heels of one of the best seasons of his career.

He led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game after passing for a stunning 4,155 yards, looking very much at times like a younger version of himself. In addition, he threw 28 TDs — including an overtime Hail Mary pass to beat Denver in front of a national audience — and had a 95.7 quarterback rating. He was also voted into the Pro Bowl, but declined to go.

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said the quarterback told him of his decision Monday night.

"Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door, but then nobody encouraged him not to go out that door, either," Cook said by phone from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office.

Favre leaves the game as the all-time leader in wins, passing yards, touchdowns and consecutive games started by a quarterback. A three-time MVP, the southern swashbuckler won fans over with his carefree style that epitomized the "gunslinger" moniker and made fans out of everyone from the guy next door to those already enshrined in Canton.

If in fact Favre does not have a change of heart, his final pass of a Hall of Fame Career was an interception by the Giants' Corey Webster, setting up New York's overtime win in the NFC title game.

For the last few years, the question of whether or not Favre was going to retire has been the most debated topic during the off-season. Two years ago he let his decision linger as reports both that he was returning and that he was retiring emerged. In fact, at one point he was supposedly going to announce his retirement at his charity golf tournament. Of course, those reports ultimately proved to be false.

After his final game of the 2006 season, a tearing and emotional Favre appeared on national TV and seemed to be bidding the game adieu. But once again, he had a change of heart and came back for what proved to be one heck of a final hurrah.

This time, Favre appears to have made his final decision. However, like in the past, Favre could wake up any day now and decide to change his mind, although that doesn't seem likely at this point.


The team will now shift to Aaron Rodgers, a former first-round pick, who has had few opportunities to play since being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft. But when Favre was injured in a Thursday night game against Dallas this past season, Rodgers looked pretty good in relief. The former Cal star completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown — the first of his career — and nearly rallied the Packers to the win.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Favre decides to call it a career

[msdeb]

i hope some team picks him up for a year. he's still got it.

[LynnieD]

WOW. I am actually shocked by this.

I am not a Green Bay fan, but definitely a Brett Favre fan. I think he has been one of the better, classier, and certainly more fun QB's to watch in eons. And I will truly miss him for those reasons.

Best of luck Brett. And thanks.

[*DIVA!]

Aww FavRe!! You are a great QB!

[Sojiita]

Well if it is all over I hope he can put some of his considerable dollars and talent towards helping his hometown continue to recover from Katrina. Wasn't a relative of his the mayor of one of those wrecked Mississippi towns>?

[laynes]

One of the best QB's in the history of the game. Not a GB fan, but I've never seen anyone play with so much heart! Sundays just won't be the same without Brett.

[LynnieD]

Always seemed like a stand up guy. Into his wife and kids...and has always been a hometown boy (Mississippi) and I hope he DOES take the next few years to help out if he can.

[kingcap72]

I'm shocked on one hand that Favre retired, but on the other hand I'm not. He's been hinting at retiring for a few years now, and most people thought that he was going to quit about a year ago. As a football fan, I'm sorry his last game was a loss, but as a Giants fan I'm happy it was a loss to N.Y.

But after playing in 275 straight games, including the day after his father died, and setting/breaking records, he's earned the right to walk away on his terms. He set the bar. Good luck, Favre.

[RevellingInSane]

I can understand his wanting to retire. He played through all his siblings legal troubles, his father having a fatal heart attack while driving, his mother being ill, and his wife having cancer.

Maybe he wants to sit back and enjoy what he missed out on while dedicating his life to the game and giving us some great Sundays.

I'm no GB fan, but the man is good.