Brett Favre On Retirement

SI Staff | May 7, 2009

Brett Favre On Retirement /

Brett Favre On Retirement

January 2003

Brett Favre nixes retirement talk, saying, "I have every intention of coming back."

January 2005

After a bitter playoff loss to Minnesota, Favre tells the Packers he needs time to consider his future. "It would be easy to walk off the field after that game and say, 'I've had enough,"' Favre said. "But I'm going to try to be as fair to myself and to this team as possible. I've had a lot of great games. This obviously was not one of them. But I can't base my decision on this game ... It's not about me anymore. My wife has gone through some difficult times and continues to. So that is going to play into my decision-making."

April 2006

Before the NFL Draft, Favre tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "I still feel like I can play at a high level and obviously the Packers do, too, or they wouldn't be concerned about my decision. But there are some things I have to sort out. There are some things I'm looking for in the team and what they're trying to do. I guess if those don't come together, I guess I won't play. It's just kind of wait and see." Soon afterward he confirms he will play another season.

February 2007

Favre announces he will play in 2007. "I am so excited about coming back," he says.

March 2008

In a tearful news conference, he tells reporters, "I am officially retiring from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers. ... It is on my terms. Which is a good way to go out."Earlier he had said to ESPN: "I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired."

August 2008

Favre decides to come back and is traded to the Jets. He says: "My interest at first ... was to stay within the division. (But) I'm here to help the Jets win."

February 2009

After one season with the Jets, Favre gets his release and says, "There are several things that went into the decision, but most importantly, the most important thing, was that physically, you know with my shoulder the last half of the year, it hampered the way I played. I'm 39, I had several options [to have surgery] and to let it heal. How that would affect me in terms of playing I had no idea and it wasn't something I was going to risk."

April 2009

With rumors flying that he wants to come back, Favre says, "Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football." Talking exclusively to SI.com, he says about the rumors, "That's the last thing I'm thinking about. I have no idea where it came from, but it certainly didn't come from me. I'm happy about my decision and I haven't once said, 'I wonder if I made the wrong decision.' I know it's the right one. "

Published May 7, 2009

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