Brett Favre, the former NFL quarterback accused of misappropriating millions in federal welfare funds, revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on welfare reform, the 54-year-old Favre addressed the allegations that have surrounded him since 2020, asserting that he did not intentionally misuse the funds. Among the beneficiaries of the funds was Prevacus, a pharmaceutical company working on concussion treatments.
“I also lost money in a company I thought was developing a groundbreaking concussion drug that could help others,” he stated. “Unfortunately, it’s too late for me as I’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but this issue is very important to me.”
This admission from the celebrated football player, who enjoyed a career spanning over two decades that included a Super Bowl win and Hall of Fame induction, is significant, especially as the NFL has increasingly focused on concussions and brain injuries.
It is especially notable that a living player has been diagnosed with a serious condition potentially linked to repeated head trauma.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a degenerative brain disease associated with professional football, can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
A 2023 study suggested a correlation between prolonged football careers and increased Parkinson’s diagnoses.
Favre has estimated that he sustained over 1,000 concussions during his career, which included 20 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Green Bay Packers, where he won the Super Bowl in 1997.
Once a beloved figure known for his charm and Southern accent, Favre’s reputation has suffered following allegations that he was involved in misusing about $8 million intended for low-income families. The funds, from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, provide cash support to families with children.
Auditors found that in 2017 and 2018, Favre received $1.1 million in speaking fees for speeches he never delivered and helped direct millions towards personal projects, including $5 million for volleyball facilities at his alma mater and $2.1 million to Prevacus. Jacob Vanlandingham, the neuroscientist leading Prevacus, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July for using diverted welfare funds to settle personal debts and gambling losses.
Although Favre has not faced criminal charges and his lawyer stated he repaid the $1.1 million in speaking fees, the state requested interest on the amount. Favre declined, leading to a lawsuit against him and 37 others to recover what the state claims were wrongfully obtained funds. Text messages revealed during the lawsuit suggested Favre had a more significant role than he acknowledged.
Favre is also involved in several lawsuits, including one against Mississippi’s state auditor, Shad White, claiming defamation, and another by the attorney general attempting to halt recovery efforts from Favre. Favre mentioned a gag order restricting his comments on ongoing litigation but accused the state auditor of attempting to damage his reputation for political gain.
“The difficulties my family and I have faced over the past three years, due to certain Mississippi officials failing to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and blaming me unjustly, have harmed my reputation,” Favre said, defending his stance against claims made in the media. However, court filings included text messages where he appeared to inquire about concealing his involvement in the funding.
On Tuesday, Favre maintained his innocence, stating, “I had no way of knowing that there was anything wrong with how the state funded the project.”
