Brett Favre Packs It In

Famed QB Announces End Of 17-Year Career In NFL

(CBS/AP)  After flirting with retirement for years, Brett Favre means it this time. The Green Bay Packers quarterback retired 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 told ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a voice mail message.

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

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said the quarterback told him 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 said by phone from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office.

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

"He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that," Thompson said in a statement.

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 told ESPN. "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."

The news was a surprise to teammates.

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

Much of Favre's legacy will be defined by what happened off the field - and how he reacted to it, CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor reports.

In 1996, he was addicted to painkillers and in 1999 to alcohol, which almost ruined his marriage, Glor reports. He dropped both the drugs and the booze, and along the way started the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation for disabled and disadvantaged kids.

And after his wife battled breast cancer, the couple formed another foundation to fight that disease.

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Couric & Co.: A Remarkable Man On, And Off, The Field

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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.

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.

In the past several offseasons, Favre's indecision about his football future became a winter tradition in Wisconsin, with Cheeseheads hanging on his every word.

Unlike after the 2006 season - when Favre choked up in a television interview as he walked off the field in Chicago, only to return once again - nearly everyone assumed he would be back next season.

It was a remarkable turnaround from 2005, Favre's final season under former head coach Mike Sherman, when he threw a career-worst 29 interceptions as the Packers went 4-12.

Surrounded by an underrated group of wide receivers who proved hard to tackle after the catch, Favre had a career-high completion percentage of 66.5. He threw for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions.

Before the Packers' Jan. 12 divisional playoff game against Seattle, Favre told his hometown newspaper that he wasn't approaching the game as if it would be his last and was more optimistic than in years past about returning.

"For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this could be my last game," Favre told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald. "I would like to continue longer."

But Favre finished the season on a sour note, struggling in subzero temperatures in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game.

Afterward, Favre was noncommittal on his future. McCarthy said he wanted Favre to take a step back from the season before making a decision.

Now he has - to walk away.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude," Thompson said. "The uniqueness of Brett Favre his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

[andyli1004]

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made several interesting friends there.

[jdubs63]

What a classy guy..

[healthylife-2009]

It is so good to see your faith at work in your life, Brett. God has great plans for you and Deanna. Just in case you need a reminder, as if you didn''t know, by now. He said "I know the plans I have for you, plans for a future and a hope, plans to prosper you..." It is so good to see you retire healthy, so he can use you, with Deanna by your side, in your next endeavor in life.

[lynne_m1]

ALL of Wisconsin is VERY sad today!! We will miss Brett. We were so lucky to have him! WTG BRETT, HALL OF FAME!!!!!

[dowjones20k]

Brett Favre is the EPITOMY of the NFL & ALL players in the league .. If all players had the character of Favre the league would be able to hold it''s head high ..

Brett you will be missed for your heart, your example and most of all your character ...

Good luck & enjoy your retirement ... you earned it!

[the74blaster]

Brett was a treasure to the Green Bay Packers and to the NFL as well. He is retiring on what many believed was his best season since winning the 3 MVP awards.

He is going to be missed there is no doubt about. All you need to do is look at the videos of the game where he set the all time touchdown record in Minnesota. The crowd gave him a standing O even though it was against their team in their stadium.

The other thing that is amazing (correct me if I am wrong), but once he won the starting job in Green Bay, he did not miss a start in his entire career.

Welcome to the hall of fame and thanks for the great memories Brett!

[lynne_m1]

We LOVE YOU BRETT FARVE, We''ll really miss you!!!! Thank you for all the good years and memories, I wish there were more to come! The Pack will not be the same without you!!! HALL OF FAMER YOU ARE AND SO DESERVE!!!!!!!!

[tunman-2009]

Great fun watching you all these years Brett, but as a Vikings fan I am happy you are hanging it up. Enjoy your trip to the Hall of Fame, you certainly earned it!!

[indivthinker]

Well, he was certainly one of the 5 best QBs of all time.

#4 forever

[missyx21]

I guess being a young one on here, I''ve only known Favre as the Packers and the Packers as Favre. I don''t remember who came before him, I''ve only always known him. Maybe that''s why I feel he is what makes the packers who they are.

The packers won''t be the same without him. We here in WI won''t be the same without him.

[hawksprings]

Favre was awesome.
Mr. Football.

[atschroeder]

I doubt he will read these comments but what the heck - Thanks Mr. Favre. It has been a pleasure watching you play. Good luck. Now my Broncos can win all of their games against Green Bay.

[snow19599]

Way to go Brett you are my alltime favorite and the Packers are my favorite team. I will miss watching you play. Good Luck and have fun with your retirement you deserve it.
BEST WISHES

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is very sad that No. 4, Brett Favre, is calling it a career after 17 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Stating that he was "tired mentally" (aren''t we all!), it is believed that it wasn''t the loss of the NFL championship game in the "Freezer Dome" of Lambeau Field this January that forced his decision, but the fact that he lost 2 straight games to the Chicago Bears last year, the Packers arch enemies, which finally convinced him to hang it up!

It is believed that Favre''s jersey will be retired to the Packer museum where it will hang in a place of high honor. Plans are being drafted by loyal Cheeseheads everywhere to donate enough money to cast a bronze statue of "No. 4" and place it next to that of Vince Lombardi at Lambeau Field. The entire state of Wisconsin will observe a moment of silence in observance of Favre''s retirement.

Cheeseheads everywhere are predicting lean years ahead for the "Green Machine".

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[hugefan04]

It is truely a pleasure to have watched the past 17 seasons. We will miss the kid in you and the professionalism you brought to the game. HOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You!

[whoever1234]

He had a great career, which ended on a note that was typical of his career: one too many interceptions.

[remco82]

I''ve never liked the Packers, but certainly do admire Favre''s amazing abilities and will to win over a 17-year Hall of Fame career!

[kennergirl]

Brett Farve has to be my favorite football player. I am sad to see him go but as others have said he was one hell of a player and seems like a hell of a guy too.

It is about time somebody took the keys from Grandpa. The Rodgers era begins.

[gopack443]

Thanks Brett, it''s a sad day in Wisconsin though