Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre is opening up about the symptoms that led to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Favre told TMZ Sports that he was diagnosed in January after losing the use of his right hand and arm in the summer of 2023. As TMZ points out, Favre initially said in August 2023 that he had issues with his hands and arms, but asked them not to report them. Fabre announced Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a congressional hearing on welfare reform in Washington.According to TMZ, Favre gave permission for the story to run after the information was made public. The Green Bay Packers legend told the media that sometimes his hands would “get stuck,” but other times he’d push them back and forget about them and “come back” a few minutes later.
Favre only decided to go to the doctor when he had trouble with his right arm in his jacket sleeve. “I felt strength in my arm, but I didn’t have control,” Favre explained. And that was the most frustrating thing.”After Favre was diagnosed, he said he went to five specialists, who told him the condition could be the cause of the “head injuries” he suffered during his playing career because they weren’t running in his family. Studies have shown that brain damage increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life. Favre previously said he believed he suffered “three or four” concussions while playing football, but based on what we know, the actual number could be “hundreds, maybe thousands.”
A three-time NFL MVP, Favre played 20 seasons in the NFL with four different teams. He is best known for his 16 seasons with the Packers from 1992 to 2007. He led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1996 and 1997, defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 31 to capture the franchise’s first championship in 29 years.
