Brett Favre's Tribute to His Father

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gave a Hall of Fame speech. That anyone who'd seen it, well, couldn't forget it. He spent his time thanking his entire family, his wife Deanna, his mother-in-law. But the ex-Packer saved his most passionate words for his father, Irvin, who died on December 2003, a day the Green Bay quarterback threw for 399 yards and four touchdown passes in an unforgettable win over the Oakland Raiders, which was broadcast live and nationally. We'd like to thank the folks at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

for generously allowing Our American Stories to use their footage. Let's take a listen to Brett. I'm not surprised one bit at the Packer fans here. This is incredible. Incredible.

So I thank you. Thank you, Canton. Thank you, Hall of Fame. Thank you, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Believe me, I'm blessed.

I'm an extremely blessed man. I look at my family. Um What a lucky man. Play a game that I love so much. for 20 years to have all the Wonderful things happen.

A little blessing. The share in that. And that joy with you guys here tonight. What an incredible night, what an incredible week. I'll tell you a story.

My father would have introduced me here tonight. And Deanna and I had after the game in Oakland. had chartered the plane. Our two daughters had went to Mississippi. She flew out late Saturday night.

and was there Throughout, we had chartered a plane back from Oakland to get Christmas gifts back in Green Bay, take a brief nap. and go to the service and Christmas. Back in Mississippi. And on the and let me say this first about NFL fans, Oakland Raider fans in particular. That night, and I have played in Oakland before, and I think everyone here who has played in Oakland, either as the home team or the away team, will all agree.

They can be downright nasty. I've seen it, I've witnessed it. But I'll say this, that night, the tremendous respect and honor that was shown to me and my family. from the Oakland Raider fans was spectacular. And although we didn't ask for it, Deanna and I got a police escort to the airport.

That I can promise you would have made any president proud.

So I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. But I On our flight back, it was a long flight, and as you can imagine, there was a lot of emotions. We had just won the game, and it was probably the best game I'd ever played in, but that really didn't matter at that point. And we laughed, we cried. And we tried to sleep.

We laughed and we cried and One time in particular, Dean. The antestomy. And you had to know my father. My father was short on praise and long on tough love. He w if he if he was ever to praise me I was not to hear it.

It was always you can do better. He was always pushing me. to be better. That was okay. Never did I hear him say, son.

You've arrived. You're the best. That was awesome. Great game. It was always, yeah, but.

So Deanna says to me on the plane You know your dad. had said to me that he had hoped or could not wait for the day that you were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

So he can introduce you. And up until that moment, I had never thought about the Hall of Fame. And I mean no disrespect to the Hall of Fame. I say this with the utmost respect for all you guys. I had dreamed of playing The The NFL, believe me.

way more than I thought about my my schoolwork. I thought about being Archie Manning, running around throwing underhand passes. I thought about being my childhood favorite, Roger Stahlbach. Throwing it to Preston Pearson or Drew Pearson. Handed it off to Tony Dorset.

Being Kenny Stabler coming out of the tunnel. I thought of those things so many times, but I never thought of the Hall of Fame. Until that moment. And so a new goal had entered my mind. Then and there.

And I said to myself, I will make it to the whole thing. That I would make it to the Hall of Fame so I could acknowledge the fact. of how important he was. This is tougher than any third and fifteen, I can assure you.

So I could not acknowledge what the market is. the importance of him. and my career and my life. Which he was A tremendous Part of my life. He taught me toughness.

Boy, did he teach me toughness. Trust me, there was no room for crybabies in our house. He taught me teamwork. And by all means, no player was ever more important than the team. And my father For those who don't know.

chose to run the wishbone. Which some of you younger generation people do not even know what that is, but it never entailed throwing. But that was the type of coach he was, and that was the type of dad he was. He would never showcase. His son's talents, or anyone else's talents, for their good rather than the team's good.

And so Then and there, in that moment on that plane, I was determined. for selfish reasons. to get to this point, to acknowledge How important he was. I would not be here before you today without my father. There's no doubt whatsoever.

And one more thing about my father, and this is something I've never told anyone, including Deanna. My dad was my high school football coach. He was the head football coach. He coached me and my two brothers. But I never had a car growing up.

I always rode to and from school with my father and his truck, and so he was always the last to leave the building because he had to turn the lights off. Lock up. And then we made our way home.

So it was the last high school football game of my high school career. And although I don't remember how I played before, And I don't remember how I played in the last game. What I do remember is sitting outside. The coach's office. Say on a Wednesday.

Waiting for my father to Come out so we could leave. It was dark. and I overheard my father talking to the three other coaches. And heard him, and I assume I didn't play as well the previous week only because of what he said. And he said.

I can assure you one thing about my son. He will play better. He will redeem himself. I know my son. He has it in him.

And I never let him know that I heard that. Yeah. I never said that to anyone else. But I thought to myself, Pretty good compliment, you know. My chest kind of swole up.

And I again, I never told anyone. But I never forgot that statement. That comment that he made to those other coaches. And I want you to know, Dad, I spent the rest of my career. trying to redeem myself.

and make him proud.

Well by succeeded Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. So never. Discount importance.

of being a father. and statements that you make. Whether you think your kids here This You're very important to your children. And the lesson is We come and go very quickly.

So love them each and every day. And thanks to Greg Hengler for securing this material for us in My goodness, Brett Favre.

Well, he was just so... He was so emotional and he tried so hard to keep it together. This is the first time he'd talked publicly about his dad. in front of this large Football audience. This was a beauty.

Brett Favre's tribute to his father, Irvin, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2016. Here on Our American Stories. Your dream getaway starts at the airport. With Amex Platinum, you get access to the Centurion Lounge where you can find space to send off that last work email. Philip on premium dining.

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