Brett Favre: One of the NFL's Greatest Quarterbacks

One of the NFL's greatest players has called it a career. Long-time Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who has shattered numerous passing records, has officially retired from competition following an impressive 2007 NFL season. Favre led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 win-loss record, and to the NFC Championship Game. The Packers ultimately lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

Favre's NFL career began when the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, 33^rd overall, out of Southern Mississippi. At the time, Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville was irate with the team's decision to draft Favre. In fact, Favre's debut pass in the NFL resulted in an interception that resulted in a touchdown for the opposing team. After four slipshod pass attempts, Favre's tenure in Atlanta was over.

In 1992, the Falcons traded him to the Green Bay Packers for a first round draft pick. His career in Green Bay began in the second game of the 1992 NFL season when he replaced the popular Don Majkowski. Since September 20, 1992, Brett Favre has started every game for the Packers.

His legacy began as he helped transform the Packers franchise from a bottom feeder to a Super Bowl contender. In 1994, he began to materialize as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. In 1995, Favre led the Packers to the post-season for the first time since 1982. Furthermore, he secured his first of three consecutive NFL MVP awards with a passer rating of 99.5.

A year later, Favre led the 13-3 Packers to the Super Bowl for the first time in three decades. They routed the New England Patriots 35-21, and Favre was continually elevating his stock. In 1997, the Packers appeared in the Super Bowl for a second successive season, however, fellow NFL Great John Elway and the Denver Broncos upended them by a score of 31-24.

Following the loss to the Broncos, Favre would not appear in another Super Bowl, but he led the Packers to 13 consecutive non-losing seasons. The 2005 season marked a downward spiral for the aging quarterback as he threw for 29 interceptions in a 4-12 season. Many critics felt as if Favre's career as a productive quarterback was over.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback proved all of the skeptics wrong in 2007 as Favre returned to form, leading the Packers to a 13-3 record while throwing 28 touchdown passes versus 15 interceptions.

On September 30, 2007, Favre's touchdown pass to Greg Jennings was his 421^st career touchdown pass, moving him ahead of Dan Marino for first on the all-time list. He currently has 442 career touchdown passes.

After the loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game, many expected Favre to return to a team that was full of youthful talent. However, Favre stated that he was mentally tired despite the fact that he can still physically compete at a high level.

"If I felt like coming back -- and Deanna [Favre, his wife] and I talked about this -- the only way for me to be successful would be to win a Super Bowl. 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," Favre said.

Now that Brett Favre's career has ended, debates will arise as to his place among the NFL's all-time greatest quarterbacks. With his passing records, three MVP awards, and a Super Bowl ring, he is legitimately a consideration as the NFL's greatest quarterback of all-time.

Favre's legacy in the NFL is obviously a successful quarterback, but he was recognized as a southern gentleman who was tough as nails. He played through agonizing injuries on several occasions throughout his career, as well as difficult circumstances such as the death of his father in 2003.