In 2011, when Brett Favre announced his retirement from the NFL, despite being a muscular quarterback, one fact he was content with was that he would no longer need to work out as much as he did. But 13 years later, he received news that made him wonder if this was it.

The flashy Gunslinger had made a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers for his iconic throws, but that often also put him in positions where he was hit. Ultimately, his 100s of 1000s of concussions over two decades of NFL QB life had resulted in Parkinson’s disease. While it was still diagnosed five years earlier than the average of 60-year-olds, the worse news is that it is continuing to progress much quicker than anyone would’ve expected. And when he appeared in front of the fellow Cheeseheads, trying to deliver a hopeful message, the health setback was unmistakable.

“Hello everyone, it’s Brett Favre, former Packer. Speaking of Packers, I want to congratulate and thank the Colectivo Packers México for bringing Packer fans together nationwide,” Favre said in a video shared on X by the official account of Packers Mexico. “I want to invite everyone to the official photo shoot on September 13th at 12 p.m. at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

“By the way, Mexico City is a beautiful city, and then after that you can go to the kickoff watch parties. This is our year. I believe it. God bless, and Go Pack!”

In the video, he was sitting in his home, scrolling through the message on his device. But what caught everyone off guard was the way he looked.

He was visibly older than what we have seen of him in the last couple of years. Then, there was his voice. Even when he was diagnosed with the condition, his words were clear. But now, he was stuttering much more, and his voice was no longer as clear. The worst part is how it all started.

How Brett Favre’s is attacking his Parkinson’s disease today

Two years ago, Favre realized that putting his right arm through a T-shirt was no longer an easy task. Then came the struggle of holding things steady, and eventually, stiffness of the body. According to him, everything became much worse at night than during the day, probably because of the combination of exhaustion from the day and the condition. But the plain fact that we usually connect these symptoms to growing old made it more dangerous. The reality of it all isn’t lost on him.

“According to my doctors, everyone progresses differently. My doctor, in fact, said that it’s like the aging process,” he told TMZ in February. “You see someone you haven’t seen in 20 years, and they look like they haven’t aged a bit. And you see someone you hadn’t seen in a month, and they’ve aged two years. That’s the way the disease works. A few symptoms have creeped in that were not there initially. Nothing to raise a red flag about. It is what it is.

“I have absolutely not given up, and I am fighting till the end. Yes, I have progressed a little faster than I would have hoped at this point, but I’m extremely thankful and blessed!!!”

According to research, it is found that even a minor concussion could increase one’s chances of Parkinson’s by 57 percent. Now, wonder what Favre’s thousands of concussions could signify.

“[The doctors] all said the same thing, if it’s not in your family, and there’s none on either side of my family, then the first thing we looked at is head trauma,” Favre told TMZ back then. “Well, hell, I wrote the book on head trauma.”

When he finally announced his diagnosis to the world, the Packers fans, whether they liked him or not, quickly huddled up to support him. He was overwhelmed, for sure, but he also never took his gaze off of what the future meant for him. At that time, it meant medications, proper diet, enough workouts, and living as much as possible. He certainly found a way to do that through his fans, while supporting others also facing the same condition, and is hopeful that within five or ten years, we should finally have a cure for the disease. For now, though, how he looked raised many eyebrows as everyone dropped wishes for the Packers icon.

Brett Favre’s fans are concerned with how his condition is worsening

The video revealed Favre stuttering and slurring his words, a stark contrast that alarmed fans. It’s hard for the fans to accept that their once gridiron hero is now finding it hard to complete a sentence. But ahead of them all was ex-quarterback Don Majkowski, who played with Favre for one season in Green Bay.

“Sending prayers and support to [Brett Favre]. It was very tough to hear about his recent diagnosis,” Majkowski shared. Fans echoed their concerns soon after.

“It is so difficult to see Brett Like this. No matter what he has done, he is a human being with a soul and deserves respect like everyone else,” wrote a fan. 

“We are witnessing brain damage here, folks. Not funny. God protect this man,” shared another fan. 

“Man this is hard God Bless Brett,” read a fan comment.

“We love you @BrettFavre I appreciate everything you have done for the game @NFL and imma @Eagles fan but the @packers should do something man I mean this hurts my heart to see,” wrote a fan.

“Brett Favre was my favorite QB growing up. This hits hard. Seeing your idols slowing down is a tough reality check of life,” another fan wrote.

Fans still remember Favre for his clutch 40-yard desperation pass to Sterling Sharpe in the final minute at Detroit, securing Green Bay’s first playoff victory in 12 years in 1994. He was the first NFL player to win three consecutive Associated Press MVP awards. But no matter how life has taken a 180-degree turn, Favre is not giving up.

Keeping his health battle aside, as a Packer, he is all pumped up for the Colectivo Packers México ahead of the Packers’ game against the Minnesota Vikings in US Bank Stadium on September 13.