The Sad Realization That Your Heroes Are Human [WATCH]

I've always loved the game of football. But I became a true fan of the game because of one player. Brett Favre. His amazing play helped bring the Green Bay Packers back to prominence in the NFL. He was a gunslinger, not afraid to make the tough throw. At one point he was the all-time NFL leader in touchdowns AND interceptions. He won three MVP awards and a Super Bowl. Like many of our sports heroes, I thought he could do no wrong.

But Favre wore out his welcome in Green Bay. His on-again-off-again retirement talk led the franchise to trade him to the New York Jets. Then things really fell apart. He sent inappropriate pictures to a female host with the Jets. He signed with the Vikings, before finally retiring from the game of football. Controversy has followed him in retirement too. The biggest involves welfare money in Mississippi being used to build a volleyball court where Favre's daughter goes to school. Brett has been implicated. But the latest sad chapter in Favre's post-playing career involves his health.

During a congressional hearing on welfare reform, ESPN reports that Favre revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. In an interview with TMZ, Favre stated that he began experiencing symptoms several years ago and was diagnosed in January.

Favre was no stranger to concussions. ESPN reports that in a 2018 interview, Favre stated that he believes he suffered thousands of them during his 20-year NFL career. Hearing the Ironman of pro football talk about not being strong enough to use a screwdriver was hard to watch. And make no mistake. Favre knows how he got the disease. Playing football.

A 2020 study showed that suffering a single concussion increased the risk of developing Parkinson's by 57% and dementia by 72%. Those are some truly scary numbers for many former football players like Favre. It also confirms why I'm glad my son Chase, stopped playing football after he suffered two injuries in two years in high school. One required surgery. He was fortunate enough to never suffer a concussion during his playing days.

Brett Favre is on my shortlist of favorite athletes of all time. He wasn't afraid to win at any cost. But I'm sure he never thought that cost would be his health and even his life. It is another stark reminder that even our heroes are human. Even the toughest of the tough still feels pain. What good are all the awards, banners, and trophies if you don't remember winning them?

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