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Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre testified on Tuesday to a Congressional committee that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The shocking admission came as Favre was testifying at a hearing about welfare abuses. The former Green Bay Packers legend is being sued by the state of Mississippi for his alleged involvement in a welfare scandal.

Favre has publicly denied any wrongdoing in the case, asserting that he was unaware any funds used to pay his speaking fees were designated for welfare programs. He claims he was duped by shady public officials and he never knew where the money was coming from.

“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others, and I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Favre told lawmakers.

“This is also a cause dear to my heart. Recently, the doctor, running the company pleaded guilty to taking TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) money for his own use.”

Brett Favre Shocks NFL World With Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder leading to motor symptoms like uncontrollable tremors, as well as non-motor symptoms such as cognitive changes and mood disorders.

There is no cure for the disease. Most readers are probably aware of the devastating effects of the disease due to actor Michael J. Fox’s battle.

Repetitive head trauma and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) have been linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Favre, a three-time National Football League MVP, has openly questioned whether or not he has cognitive lapses potentially caused by CTE. He famously played in 321 straight games (by far the NFL record) regardless of injury – including blows to the head.

“I wonder if that is what it is, or do I have early stages of CTE? I don’t know,” he said in an interview with Megyn Kelly. “It makes you wonder.”

RELATED: Brett Favre Reveals Release Date For ‘Concussed’ – Should The NFL Be Worried About The CTE Documentary?

Concussed

Prior to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Brett Favre claimed that he had only suffered a few concussions during his playing days. He based that on the misconception that concussions only count if there’s a loss of consciousness.

However, after learning more about the symptoms and broader definition of concussions, he estimated that he might have suffered over 1,000 concussions during his 20-year NFL career.

Last month, Favre announced the release of Concussed: The American Dream, a movie that documents the tragic story of Super Bowl champion Tyler Sash and his battle with CTE.

Sash was a standout safety for the University of Iowa who later played for the New York Giants, where he won a Super Bowl during his rookie season in 2012.

His life was cut short at age 27 when he was found dead in his hometown of Oskaloosa, Iowa, due to an accidental overdose involving methadone and hydrocodone. Sash had a history of painful injuries.

Posthumously, Sash was diagnosed with stage 2 CTE.

The similarities between Favre’s brain trauma and what happened to Sash are explored in the movie. The NFL has already faced numerous lawsuits over concussions and CTE.

Brett Favre was featured in a public service announcement (PSA) in 2021 urging parents not to allow their children to play tackle football under age 14.

Rusty Weiss is a lifelong NFL and MLB fan (Cowboys/Dodgers) and sometimes fan of college basketball (Xavier). Rusty is... More about Rusty Weiss

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