Legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre made headlines on Tuesday after publicly disclosing his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis during testimony before Congress. This was the first time Favre had spoken about his diagnosis, shaking the sports and health communities alike.
In his opening remarks to the House committee, Brett Favre revealed, “I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me, as I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.” His testimony was part of a hearing focused on the misuse of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in Mississippi.
Favre has been linked to allegations of welfare fund misuse, particularly concerning investments in a concussion drug. Despite these accusations, the Hall of Famer has not been criminally charged. Instead, Favre repaid more than $1 million after the Mississippi state government filed a civil lawsuit against him and other defendants for misspending TANF funds.
“I also lost an investment in a company I believed was working on a breakthrough concussion drug, which I thought would help many people,” Favre shared during the testimony. The company’s founder pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July, admitting to using welfare funds inappropriately.
During the hearing, Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) expressed his sympathy, saying, “My heart goes out to you and your family for your diagnosis. You’ll remain an inspiration in many ways.” Similarly, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) offered well wishes, to which Favre responded, “Well, thank you.”
While Brett Favre did not provide additional details about his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he reassured reporters by saying, “I’m great.” Due to the ongoing civil lawsuit in Mississippi, Favre remains under a gag order and was unable to discuss specifics of the case
