Brett Favre Retires

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Quarterback Brett Favre is retiring from the Green Bay Packers, Fox Sports and ESPN report on their websites.

ESPN says agent Buss Cook confirmed that Favre has notified the team that he won't be playing next season.

The (Biloxi, Miss.) Sun Herald says it confirmed the news with Favre's brother, Scott.

"A sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer, Favre, acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, led the Packers back to the NFL's elite," ESPN says. "He retires with 5,377 carrer completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions."

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has informed the team that he plans to retire. Favre called coach Mike McCarthy to tell him the news Monday night.

FoxSports.com first reported the news Tuesday morning, and numerous news outlets followed. The team confirmed Favre's decision with a statement from general manager Ted Thompson on Packers.com:

"Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL," Thompson said in the statemetn. "He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever. Brett's many accomplishments on the field are legendary. He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated.

"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

At age 38, Favre had a turn-back-the-clock year in 2007, completing a career-best 66.5 percent of his regular-season passes for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a 95.7 passer rating, his best since 1995.

Late in the season, Favre told his sportswriter friend Al Jones of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald that he was leaning toward returning for an 18th NFL season, in part because of the Packers' surprising 13-3 regular-season finish, which led to a berth in the NFC Championship Game.

Favre's final pass in that game was an overtime interception that set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal.

"I am trying to enjoy it because this could be my last game in Green Bay," Favre told Jones shortly before the Packers' NFC divisional playoff victory over Seattle. "(But) for the first time in three years, I haven't thought (about how) this could be my last game. I would like to continue longer."

Also, during a conference call with Seattle-area reporters earlier that week, Favre said his daughters — Brittany, a freshman at the College of Charleston, and third-grader Breleigh — both told him he should keep playing. In his interview with Jones, Favre said the conversation took place during a trip to an ice cream parlor.

"We didn't argue about it being my last game like we have in the past," Favre told Jones. "We talked about Brittany coming back in this weekend … for what could be my last game.

"Breleigh then spoke up and said, 'Dad, don't retire.' And Brittany said, 'Dad, I think you need to play one more year.'

"I have a lot to think about. It's been a fun year and winning has made it a good year. For the first time in a couple of years, at this point, my focus is solely on Seattle and winning a playoff game at home."

After the initial news broke of Favre's retirement, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on the network's First Take program that according to Favre's agent, Bus Cook, Favre informed McCarthy of his decision shortly after New England wide receiver Randy Moss re-upped with the Patriots, signing a three-year, $27 million contract.

Favre had pushed hard for the Packers to trade for Moss last offseason, but the Oakland Raiders sent him to New England instead. Favre criticized Thompson for not making the deal, and sources said in the wake of the trade that Cook went to the Packers and told them his client wanted to be traded. Favre later denied demanding a trade.

Mortensen reported that Favre had once again pushed for Moss to join the Packers. Favre had spoken to Moss late last week and was willing to commit to return for more than just this season if Moss and the Packers could come to an agreement. But the Packers did not pursue Moss, who then re-signed with the Patriots.

After Mortensen reported that, Favre called Mortensen and left lengthy voicemail backtracking on that idea and explaining his decision.

Instead, Mortensen said Favre's message focused on how he felt worn down by the demands of the game, adding that he and his wife Deanna thought anything short of a Super Bowl title would be a disappointment and not worth the mental wear and tear.

Cook told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he believes Favre wants to play another year but the Packers did not give the quarterback the impression that they really wanted him back.

"It's my opinion," Cook told the newspaper's Web site. "I know he wants to play one more year. I do not know much conversation there was (between Favre and the Packers) and I don't think anyone forced him to make that decision. But I don't know that anyone tried to talk him out of it.

"I think he wanted to play. I think he's still got it. He knows he's still got it. I think he felt he could play one more year. I don't know if they told him they really wanted him to play. That's just the feeling I got."

Asked whether he thought Favre could be talked into returning, Cook replied, "I don't know."

At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last month, McCarthy said he and Thompson sat down during the bye week of the playoffs and determined that Favre could still play. Asked if he wanted Favre back, McCarthy replied, "Absolutely."

After WISN-TV, an ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, reported that Favre was unhappy that Thompson had not called him since the season ended, Thompson called Favre and afterward said the two were "fine."

Favre, who came to the Packers via a February 1992 trade with the Atlanta Falcons, retires with 5,377 carrer completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions, all NFL career records. He also started an NFL quarterback record 279 straight games, including playoffs. He is the only three-time MVP in league history and led the club to its first title in 29 years when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997.