Brett Favre Shares Emotional Update On His Battle With Parkinson’s Disease

Brett Favre has spoken openly about his health for the first time after long. The NFL legend shared a personal update on his Parkinson’s disease during a recent episode of his “4th and Favre” podcast.

Favre, who is now 56, first revealed his diagnosis in September 2024 during a congressional hearing. Since then, he has kept details about his condition mostly private. This time, he opened up about what life looks like for him now. Earlier, he also confirmed that he plans to donate his brain for CTE research after his death.

Favre explained that Parkinson’s affects people in different ways. He said many assume the disease only causes shaking, but that has not been his experience. Actually, he helped clear up common misunderstandings and gave listeners a better sense of what he is dealing with.

Favre Explains His Symptoms And Daily Fight

Brett Favre smilingBrett Favre (Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK)
“I thought there was just one Parkinson’s,” Favre said on the podcast. “There’s not. There’s multiple, many forms of Parkinson’s. I have what’s called idiopathic, which is the most common.”

Favre pushed back on the idea that tremors define the disease. “I get from time to time, ‘Oh you must not be too bad because you don’t shake,’” he said. “I have very little shaking, I have some, but it’s pretty rare.”

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He explained Parkinson’s by breaking it into three main symptoms doctors talk about. First, he mentioned problems with thinking and memory. Second, he pointed to shaking and tremors. Third, he talked about stiffness and rigidity.

“When I wake up in the morning before I take my medicine, I’m as close to a 2 by 4 as you could possibly get,” Favre said. He said his medication helps his muscles and joints relax as the day begins.

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Fatigue brings new challenges. Favre said shaking shows up more often late in the day. He said his memory remains strong for now. He also stressed that doctors have no cure.

“I hear from time to time, ‘They’re five years away from a cure,’” Favre said. “I hope that that’s the case. But I’m not holding my breath.”

Earlier this year, Favre told Sage Steele that swallowing has become harder. He admitted the symptom scares him. “There’s times where I think I’m choking,” he said. “It’s sort of scary.”

Favre said he focuses on each day instead of the future. He said the disease does not control him right now. “I think right now that I’m dominating the disease,” he said. “I wake up every day and think, did I progress or stay the same?”

Favre built his football career on toughness and endurance. He started 297 straight NFL games. He won three MVP awards. Now he applies that same mindset to his health fight.