After one season with the Jets and 18 in the National Football League, Brett Favre informed the Green & White this morning that he intends to retire from pro football.
It was a whirlwind campaign for Favre and the Jets. In the late hours of an early August summer evening, the Jets acquired the future Pro Football Hall of Fame passer from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
Jets owner Woody Johnson spoke to Favre this morning, thanked him for how hard he worked on behalf of the franchise and wished him the best of luck. We plan to carry Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum's conference call with reporters about Favre's decision at noon ET live on *newyorkjets.com *and to make the conference call audio available on the Website by 1 p.m.
In statements released through the team, Johnson said, "Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame player, but he is also a Hall of Fame person," Tannenbaum said, "When we acquired Brett, we knew we would get everything we had," and new head coach Rex Ryan said, "If he's not the best quarterback ever, he's certainly in the conversation." Check newyorkjets.com for the full statements.
In an email to ESPN's Ed Werder, Favre said he enjoyed his six-month stay with the Jets and praised Johnson and Tannenbaum.
"Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding,'' Favre said. "My teammates ... were a pleasure to play with. Eric [Mangini] could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance.''
In Favre's only season with New York's AFC representative, he started all 16 regular-season games. The Jets, who looked to be a lock for a playoff berth at 8-3, dropped four of their final five contests to finish 9-7 and out of the postseason. During that difficult winter stretch, he threw two touchdown passes to nine interceptions.
For the season, Favre completed 65.7 percent of his 522 pass attempts for 3,472 yards. His 81.0 passer rating place him ninth in the AFC and 21st in the NFL. His 22 TDs were matched by 22 INTs.
Favre retires as the most accomplished passer in pro football history. His 169 wins as a starter, 464 touchdown passes, 65,127 passing yards, 5,720 career completions and 9,280 passing attempts are all unmatched.
He also earned the NFL's MVP honor a record three times, capturing the Associated Press award after the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons, and was a runnerup in 2002 and 2007 as well.
The sure-fire Hall of Famer captured his first and only championship with the Packers as Green Bay defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI as Favre completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. A year later, he completed 25 of 42 for 256 yards and three TDs but the Packers were outgunned by the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII, 31-24, at Qualcomm Stadium.
A Southern Mississippi product, Favre was selected in the second round (No. 33 overall) of the 1991 draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Then the Packers obtained Favre a year later, sending a first round pick (No. 17 overall) to the Falcons in order to acquire the gunslinger. After an amazing 16-year run in Green Bay, the Jets brought Favre to New York to lead them in 2008.
"He's one of the greatest quarterbacks, if not the greatest quarterback of all-time," said tight end Dustin Keller, who as a rookie finished third on the Jets with 48 receptions. "It kind of saddens you. I wish I could get a few more years with him. I know it was my first year in the NFL, but it was the best year of football I've ever had."
