March 4, 2008, will go down as the most bittersweet day in the state’s history.

Still with something left in the tank but so many memories hang on to, Brett Lorenzo Favre has decided to call it a career after 17 legendary seasons, the final 16 with the Green Bay Packers. His remarkable toughness and amazing drive will remain unmatched.

Favre was the best thing to happen to this state since Vince Lombardi and helped fill the double-decade void after St. Vince’s 1960s Packers won five NFL championships. Between Lombardi’s final season, the 1967 campaign that culminated in a world title, and 1992, when Favre arrived, the Packers made just two playoff appearances.

But former GM Ron Wolf and head coach Mike Holmgren took a chance on the kid from Mississippi by sending a first round draft choice to Atlanta and the rest is history.

Favre, the league’s only ever three-time MVP (1995-97) had just one losing season, qualified for the playoffs 11 times, won seven divisional titles, made four NFC title game appearances, two Super Bowls and brought the title back to Titletown by winning Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season.

And, most remarkably, he never missed a start along the way.

Only one player in league history, defensive lineman Jim Marshall, started more games consecutively than Favre’s 253, 275 including playoffs. There were times where most quarterbacks would have been out multiple weeks, but the son of a coach exemplified more pure grit than any athlete of all time.

His 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, and 442 touchdowns all stand atop the NFL all-time charts. Most importantly, his 160 wins also ranks first all-time and no team has a better winning percentage in the league since 1992.

All while never changing who he is and what he’s about; a simple pair of Wrangler’s, a cheap T-shirt, and flip-flops in December; wanting practice to end early so he could get to his tree stand to tag a whitetail before dark, the ability to overcoming every obstacle life threw his way, including a painkiller addiction, his father’s massive heart attack and his wife Deanna’s bout with breast cancer among others, he became a part of the Wisconsin fabric.

Sunday’s just won’t be the same without him. To come up with his top ten moments is nearly impossible but here’s an attempt.

10. Sept. 30, 2007 Favre breaks Dan Marino’s record with his 421st touchdown pass.

9. Nov. 12, 1995 Favre overcomes a badly sprained ankle to throw five touchdowns to defeat Chicago, 35-28 to propel him to his first of three MVPs.

8. Jan. 12, 2008 Throwing three touchdowns and even more snowballs, Favre leads the Packers from behind to defeat Seattle 42-20 in the divisional playoffs on a picturesque snow-covered Lambeau Field.

7. Oct. 29, 2007 Favre connects with Greg Jennings for 82-yards in overtime to defeat Denver, 19-13.

6. Jan 4, 1996 Favre leads Packers into league’s elite by throwing three touchdowns as the Packers go to San Francisco and upset the defending champs in the divisional playoffs, 27-17.

5. Jan. 8, 1994 Favre hits Sterling Sharpe for 42-yards in the final minute in the Wild Card playoffs to defeat Detroit 28-24.

4. Dec. 18, 1994 Favre dives into the end zone in the final seconds to defeat Atlanta, 21-17 to clinch a playoff spot in the final Packers game at Milwaukee County Stadium.

3. Sept. 20, 1992 Favre’s touchdown pass in his first game with 13 seconds left tops Cincinnati 24-23 at Lambeau.

2. Dec. 22, 2003 The night after his father passes, Favre throws 399 yards and four touchdowns in a Monday night 41-7 win in Oakland.

1. Jan. 26, 1997 Favre throws for 2 TDs, including a 52-yarder to Andre Rison on the Pack’s second offensive play that made Favre take off his helmet and run around like a fifth-grader, and rushes for another. The Pack beats New England in Super Bowl XXXI 35-21 in New Orleans, just an hour from Favre’s hometown, giving the Pack its first title in 29 years.

> Comments