Brett Favre. Perhaps his greatest strength was his greatest weakness. In a survival of the fittest like tactic from the days of the Wild West, for 20 years Favre brought his gunslinger mentality to various cities throughout the NFL. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t, but the fact of the matter remains that when Favre finally hung up his cleats in 2010 he had thrown for 71,838 yards, 508 touchdowns and yes, 336 interceptions. All three are NFL records, but it’s that last stat that will always be somewhat of a cloud that hovers over the head and legacy of Favre.
Where no one can honestly deny his accomplishments and longevity, Favre’s 336 interceptions are 138 more than the closest active player who just so happens to be none other than Peyton Manning. Before Manning’s injury it was likely he would eventually surpass Favre’s yardage and touchdown record while leaving the interception record with Brett. With Manning’s current status all three of those records appear as if they’re going to be out of reach for quite some time.
Given Favre’s interception record it’s fitting that he ended his career not once, not twice, but a unprecidented three times on costly interceptions. Two of the times were in NFC Championship games and both cost his teams the win. The third time was in the final game of the regular season. Three games, three interceptions, three subsequent retirements. Let’s take a look.
The first was in the 2007 NFC Championship Game as the Green Bay Packers played host to the New York Giants. The game was at the start of overtime and the Packers had the ball. Favre threw an interception to Giants defensive back Corey Webster giving New York excellent field position. The Giants would win the game on their ensuing drive with a field goal. It would be Favre’s last play in a Packer uniform as he would announce his first retirement during that offseason.
The following season the unretired Favre was back but this time with the New York Jets. In a Week 17 matchup with division rival Miami Dolphins Favre threw another costly interception late allowing the Dolphins to win the game. It was poetic justice for former Jets’ quarterback Chad Pennington, now a member of the Dolphins, as the New York organization had released him earlier in the season to make room for Favre. Brett would again declare his retirement during the offseason.
Two seasons removed from that NFC Championship game against the Giants and again unretired, Brett Favre found himself once more just a game away from a Super Bowl berth. This time with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were on the road against the New Orleans Saints and the game was tied late. Minnesota was driving and in Saint’s territory when guess what? Yep. Brett threw an interception. The Saints would win the coin toss in overtime and drive down the field for the game winning field goal that sent them to their first ever Super Bowl and Favre into his third retirement…well, sorta.
So three teams, three costly interceptions and three semi-retirements. It’s unfortunate that the mentality that made Brett Favre so great, caused his teams so much heartache. But it is what it is, just as Brett Favre was who he was. And that’s a guy who left it all on the field win, lose, or draw. See you in Canton Brett, and thanks for the memories.
Aaron Moon is the CEO and a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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