Brett Favre Hangs Up His Cleats

After considering retirement for years, Brett Favre means it this time. The Green Bay Packers quarterback announced his retiremement after a 17-season career in which he dazzled fans with his grit, heart and rocket of an arm.

I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired," Favre said.

Tuesday's surprise move comes just months since the 38-year-old three-time MVP set several league records, including most career touchdown passes, in one of his most successful seasons.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Favre informed him of the decision by telephone Monday night.

"He said it was time for him to hang up the cleats," McCarthy said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, also learned 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 told The Associated Press by phone from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson thanked Favre for 16 years of wonderful memories with the team.

"His accomplishments are legendary," Thompson said. "And it's the passion with which he played that made everyone a Brett Favre fan."

Favre led the Packers to the NFC championship game in January, but his interception in overtime set up the New York Giants' winning field goal.

"If I felt like coming back — and Deanna (Favre's wife) and I talked about this — the only way for me to be successful would be to win a Super Bowl," Favre said. "To go to the Super Bowl and lose, would almost be worse than anything else. Anything less than a Super Bowl win would be unsuccessful."

Last season, Favre broke Dan Marino's career records for most touchdown passes and most yards passing and John Elway's record for most career victories by a starting quarterback.

He retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions.

The news stunned many.

"I was surprised when I heard it this morning," former Packers general manager Ron Wolf said. "He played with such a great passion. He must have figured he no longer had that passion, and it was time to get out."

Even Favre's teammates didn't see it coming.

"I just saw it come across the TV," Packers wide receiver Koren Robinson said, when reached on his cell phone by The Associated Press.

In his final season, Favre also extended his quarterback-record streak of consecutive regular-season starts to 253 games - illustrating his trademark toughness. Add the playoffs, and Favre's streak stands at 275.


We all knew this day was coming. I Still Can't believe the news. I don't think anybody seriously thought Brett Favre would let his final pass of his career be an interception to end the Packers chance at a Super Bowl.

The "Post-Favre" Era has begun. Now we can all see if Aaron Rodgers is ready to step up and fill the enormous void left in the Packer Locker Room.

I wonder If Brett's Recievers will miss the fact that Brett could break recievers fingers with his rocket of an arm!

This is a truly sad day, as we are witnessing the retirement of the last Pure Gunslinger in NFL History.