Retired NFL QB Brett Favre Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis During Congressional Hearing

Brett Favre, a former NFL quarterback, informed a congressional committee on Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Favre revealed this information during his testimony regarding a Mississippi welfare fraud scam.

Favre, who is not charged with any crimes, has given back slightly more than $1 million

in speaking fees that were paid for by a state welfare program.

He also invested in a biotech business that has connections to the case.

The biotech company announced that it was working on concussion therapies.

Speaking before the committee, the former football player said he had lost money investing in a firm

“that I thought was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others.”

“As I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me — I’ve recently been diagnosed

with Parkinson’s — this is also a cause dear to my heart,” Favre stated.

It is unknown what causes Parkinson’s disease and whether Favre’s condition is related

to his football career or head injuries. He estimated in 2022 that throughout the course

of his 20 years in the NFL, he had “thousands” of concussions.

During the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee hearing,

Favre made an appearance to promote changes to the federal welfare system

that would better guard against fraud.

Brett Favre will testify under oath in a welfare fraud prosecution in Mississippi.

“The challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years because certain

government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse.

and are unjustifiably trying to blame me; those challenges have hurt my good name

and are worse than anything I faced in football,” Favre stated.

House Republicans have stated that the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

program needs to be redesigned in light of the Mississippi welfare misspending controversy

involving Favre and others.

In addition to stating that his foundation had given millions of dollars

to underprivileged children in Wisconsin, where he spent the majority of his playing career

With the Green Bay Packers and his native Mississippi, Favre has claimed

He was unaware that the monies he received were from welfare funds.