Favre, Brett Lorenzo

▪ 1998

      On Jan. 26, 1997, American professional football player Brett Favre proved himself leader of the pack as he guided the National Football League's (NFL's) Green Bay Packers to the team's first Super Bowl title in 29 years. En route to the Packers' 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots, the quarterback set a Super Bowl record for longest pass completion with an 81-yd touchdown throw. The win capped a season in which Favre won his second consecutive NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and established himself as one of the league's dominant players. At the end of the 1997 season, he was again voted MVP, the first NFL player to win the award three years in a row. He again led his team to the Super Bowl, but the Packers lost 31-24 to the Denver Broncos in a contest that was not decided until the final seconds. In 1997 Favre released his autobiography, Favre: For the Record, which recounted his journey to the top.

      Born Oct. 10, 1969, Favre grew up in Kiln, Miss., and was encouraged to play football by his father, who later coached his son in high school. Not heavily recruited by colleges, Brett ended up at the University of Southern Mississippi as the eighth-team quarterback. Armed with confidence and a powerful throw, however, he became the starter during his freshman year. After recovering from a serious car accident before his senior season, Favre was named MVP in the All-American Bowl and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL draft. Following a rookie season spent mostly on the bench, he was traded in 1992 to the Green Bay Packers, where he quickly developed into one of the league's premier players. Originally the backup quarterback, he started for an injured teammate in the third game of the 1992 season and never relinquished the position. That year he was named to the National Football Conference (NFC) Pro Bowl team, the first of his four appearances (1992, '93, '95, and '96). In 1993 Favre proved his durability as he started in all 16 games and was first among NFC quarterbacks in completions (318). Known for his agility, competitiveness, and field presence, he was named MVP in 1995 as he led the NFC in passer rating (99.5) and touchdown throws (38) and posted the most passing yards (4,413) in the NFL. He also tied an NFL record for longest pass completion (99 yd).

      The 1996 season proved a personal and professional triumph for Favre. He overcame an addiction to painkillers, won his second consecutive MVP award, set NFC and team records for most touchdown throws in a season (39), and led the NFC with 3,899 passing yards; it was his fifth consecutive year of throwing more than 3,000 yd.

AMY TIKKANEN

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