NFL legend Brett Favre 'frightened' about CTE, his future after Parkinson's diagnosis

Article content

During his playing days in the NFL, Brett Favre was afraid of nothing, often holding onto the ball until the last second and taking hits before getting a pass off.

Now, he admits he’s “frightened” for his future.

The Green Bay Packers great opened up during a recent interview, saying he felt like “the world was caving in” after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease last year.

The 55-year-old football hall of famer revealed the devastating news about his diagnosis in September 2024 during a congressional hearing on welfare reform.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Parkinson’s is a degenerative brain condition with symptoms that include slowed movements, tremors and balance problems, as well as non-motor symptoms like depression, anxiety and hallucinations.

“I have to admit, I thought the world was caving in on me. It was the end of the world. I can’t believe this, not me, I’m healthy, I’m very active, it doesn’t happen to me,” Favre told TMZ.

“There’s always the fear of what happens next … what’s the next step?”

Favre said the recent news that former NFL veteran Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died was “really frightening.”

“It makes me wonder what the future brings for me,” Favre added.

“I’ve already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I often wonder – and I try not to but I can’t help it – what the future holds … I’m not surprised … and neither is the public surprised at this point.

“I would think that every player that dies from here on out, if they have their brain tested, I’d say a high percentage would (have) CTE and we’re just really scraping the surface of how damaging head trauma can be – concussions, mainly.

“And I think people now take it seriously but there is still that ‘Ah, you know’ (view), almost like (it’s) a fad but we know it’s not.”

Favre, who also played for the Vikings, Jets and Falcons during his legendary career, says he’s trying to live in the moment while receiving treatment.

“Now that the dust has settled, I’m good, the medicine I take manages the symptoms. It does nothing for stopping the disease, there’s always the fear of what happens next, what’s the next step,” he said. “But I’m trying to live in the present and just make the most of what I’ve got.”

“I’m very thankful, I’m very blessed, I’ve had a wonderful 55 years and have a wonderful family, a great support group. So I can’t complain.”