Brett Favre opening up about his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is going to help other athletes who have perhaps remained quiet about their own ailments surrounding CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).
The former Green Bay Packers quarterback shocked the world earlier this week when he testified before a congressional committee that he had the neurological disorder.
With his past comments about the number of concussions he suffered during his NFL career, it’s clear Favre believes there to be a link to Parkinson’s.
“They all [doctors] said the same thing,” Favre revealed. “‘If it’s not in your family’ – and there’s none on either side of my family – ‘then the first thing we look at is head trauma.’”
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback is brave for coming forward. It has to be difficult to let the world know you’re fighting such a debilitating disease. But it’s opening up dialog on the link between head injuries in football and possible lifelong trauma.
Case in point … Tommy Kramer.
Inspired By Brett Favre, Tommy Kramer Announces He Has Dementia
Tommy Kramer, who played for the Minnesota Vikings in the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s, announced that he has been diagnosed with dementia.
“With Brett Favre announcement yesterday, I feel it’s best I let everyone know that I was diagnosed with dementia just over a year ago at the NFL Cleveland Clinic,” Kramer posted on X.
“Dr’s say I could have anywhere from 2 to 10 years, just had my year check up and it hasn’t advanced and I’ve been sober for almost a year now which will definitely help.”
Kramer went on to demand no sympathy from fans and said he simply wants to bring awareness and urge the NFL to assist players with medical bills not covered by insurance.
Kramer’s post emulates the grittiness that players like him and Favre exhibited throughout their careers on the gridiron. And, he noted, they knew the risks in playing the sport they love.
“Nobody wanted to win more than me and I never gave up, and that’s exactly how I’m going to battle this,” he said. “Football is the life we chose to live and sometimes stuff like this can happen.”
Kramer’s best year in the league was 1986 when he was named second-team All-Pro, made the Pro Bowl, and was chosen NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
He torched the Green Bay Packers that year with a six-touchdown game, four of which came in the first quarter.
John Elway Weighs In On Favre
All of this is very sad news for sports fans.
While the NFL has made significant strides in addressing player safety – they are allowing players this season to use padded headgear known as Guardian Caps – Brett Favre and Tommy Kramer’s announcements should serve as a stark reminder of past negligence or insufficient action.
Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway weighed in on the Favre news.
“That’s always sad news,” Elway told Fox News Digital. “Things happen to our friends the older we get. Brett Favre was a great player, tremendous player and really a fun guy. I had a chance to spend a lot of time with him. Really a fun guy to be around. He’s just got a great energy about him.”
“It’s sad news to hear that he’s going through that. Hopefully, they can keep it tamped down for as long as they can keep it down and come up with something that helps people. I know it inflicts many, many people out there. Hopefully, there’s a cure that comes around here pretty soon.”
From a bottom-line standpoint, the NFL has already faced numerous lawsuits over concussions and CTE. I have a feeling many more former players are going to come forward in the near future.
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