Brett Favre says ‘head trauma’ caused Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

Former NFL star Brett Favre couldn’t properly use a screwdriver with his famed right arm anymore, and then he couldn’t put his arm into a jacket. That is what led Favre to seek out the doctors and specialists who eventually diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease, according to an interview with the Hall of Fame quarterback published by TMZ on Wednesday.

“They all said the same thing,” Favre explained, ‘If it’s not in your family,’ – and there’s none on either side of my family – ‘then the first thing we look at is head trauma.’ Well, hell, I wrote the book on head trauma.”

Favre said he received the diagnosis in January after consultation with five doctors. He initially revealed the condition one day earlier during testimony at a Congressional hearing on Capitol Hill about welfare reform.

Favre described a few of his symptoms in a video clip posted by TMZ, noting they occurred for about a year before he was diagnosed. He’d notice that his right arm “was just stuck” at times. He also struggled to use a screwdriver with his right hand, demonstrating how he eventually had to use his left hand to steady the right in order to use the tool.

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“The weirdest one was, a long sleeve shirt or a jacket, I would go to put my arm in it and I couldn’t get it through the hole for nothing,” Favre said. “I felt my arm, the strength was there, but I could not guide it and it was the most frustrating thing.”

TMZ said it spoke with Favre in August, but Favre asked the outlet to not make his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis public. He granted TMZ permission following his testimony to Congress.   

Favre played 20 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He last appeared in a game in 2010. The former NFL MVP told the Today Show in 2018 that he “had hundreds” of concussions, even though only “three or four” were officially diagnosed. Favre finished his career with 508 touchdown passes, won Super Bowl XXXI and holds the NFL record for most consecutive games started (297).

Favre was in Washington on Tuesday to testify to Congress about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare funds that have entangled him in legal issues since 2022. Favre is among dozens of defendants still being sued by the state of Mississippi over the improper use of welfare money that instead went to projects pushed by wealthy and well-connected people.

After his testimony, Favre posted a video to social media expressing gratitude in light of his diagnosis.

“I just wanted to thank everyone for your support after the news that I had Parkinson’s when I testified at Congress. Unbelievable show of support and I want you to know I truly appreciate it,” Favre said. “Hopefully this will shed some light on concussions and head trauma, and also Parkinson’s. There’s a lot of people that are out there with it. Some know it. Some don’t know it. So it can happen to anyone at any time. Again, thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.”