Aug 8, 2008 - 10:32 AM
0 shoutsBy PA SportsTicker
Key dates in the storied career of Brett Favre, who was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets on Wednesday night.
April 21, 1991: The Atlanta Falcons select Favre with the 33rd overall pick of the NFL draft. Two quarterbacks - Dan McGwire (16th overall) and Todd Marinovich (24th) - were taken ahead of Favre, who enjoyed a record-setting collegiate career at Southern Mississippi.
November 10, 1991: Favre attempts his first career NFL pass, which is intercepted, in a game against the Washington Redskins. He finishes 0-of-4 passing and is intercepted twice in Atlanta's 56-17 loss to the Redskins.
February 10, 1992: The Falcons trade Favre to the Packers for the 19th overall pick in the 1992 draft. Atlanta uses the pick to select running back Tony Smith, who appeared in 33 games over a three-year career from 1992-94.
September 13, 1992: Favre makes his Packers debut in a 31-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Green Bay facing a 17-0 halftime deficit, head coach Mike Holmgren benches starting QB Don Majkowski in favor of Favre, who goes 8-for-14 for 73 yards and one interception.
September 27, 1992: Favre makes his first career NFL start, leading the Packers to a 17-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The contest marks the beginning of Favre's NFL-record streak of 253 consecutive regular-season starts (a streak that remains active).
January 8, 1994: The Packers rally for a 28-24 victory over the Detroit Lions in Favre's postseason debut. He throws a game-winning 40-yard TD pass to Sterling Sharpe with 55 seconds remaining.
1995 season: Wins the first of three consecutive league Most Valuable Player awards after leading the Packers to an 11-5 record while passing for NFL-leading totals of 4,413 yards and 38 TDs.
January 12, 1997: Favre paces the Packers to a 30-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC championship game, leading Green Bay to its first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl II.
January 26, 1997: Favre shines in his first of two straight Super Bowl appearances, leading the Packers to a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Favre throws a 54-yard TD to Andre Rison on the second play of the game and finishes 14-of-27 for 246 yards and two TDs.
January 25, 1998: Despite a terrific effort from Favre, the Packers lose to the Denver Broncos, 31-24, in Super Bowl XXXII. Favre tosses a game-tying 13-yard TD to Antonio Freeman early in the fourth quarter, but Denver takes the lead for good on Terrell Davis' 1-yard score with 1:45 remaining. After winning his third straight NFL MVP, Favre completes 25-of-42 passes for 256 yards, three TDs and one interception in the game.
March 1, 2001: Favre signs a 10-year contract worth $100 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. Upon signing the contract, Favre says, "I couldn't envision myself playing for another team. If that would ever come up, I'd probably just retire."
January 6, 2002: Favre creates controversy during a 34-25 win over the New York Giants when he weakly falls to the ground before being touched down by Michael Strahan, who is credited with a sack on the play. It is the only sack of the game, the 2001 regular-season finale, for Strahan, who claims the NFL's single-season record of 22 1/2 sacks.
December 22, 2003: One day after his father died in a fatal car crash, Favre elects to play in a Monday Night Football game vs. the Oakland Raiders. He passes for four TDs in the first half and finishes with 399 passing yards in Green Bay's 41-7 win. "I didn't expect this kind of performance," Favre says. "I know he was watching tonight."
April 26, 2006: Favre announces that he will play the 2006 season, ending widespread speculation that he will retire. The Packers went just 4-12 the previous year, but Favre indicates he wants to play beyond 2006.
December 31, 2006: After leading Green Bay to a 26-7 win over the Chicago Bears in the season finale, Favre is non-committal when asked if he plans to retire. "If it is my last game, I wanted to remember it," Favre tells NBC after passing for 285 yards and a TD.
February 2, 2007: Favre informs the Packers that he will return for the 2007 season.
September 16, 2007: Favre leads the Packers to a 35-13 victory over the Giants. Favre, who passes for 286 yards and three TDs, records his 149th career win, leapfrogging John Elway for the most in NFL history for a quarterback.
September 30, 2007: In a 23-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Favre completes a 16-yard touchdown to Greg Jennings. It is the 421st career TD pass for Favre, who passes Dan Marino for first on the NFL's all-time list.
January 20, 2008: The Packers lose a heartbreaking 23-20 overtime decision to the Giants in the NFC championship game. In the third-coldest game in NFL history, Favre struggles in his final game as a Packer, completing 19-of-35 passes for 236 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He is intercepted by Corey Webster on the second play of overtime, and the Giants win four plays later on Lawrence Tynes' 47-yard field foal.
March 4, 2008: Favre officially retires from football. At a tear-filled news conference two days later, he says, "I've given everything I can possibly give to this organization and the game of football, and I don't think I've got anything left to give. I know I can play but I don't think I want to, and that's what it comes down to."
July 11, 2008: Nine days after reportedly contacting the Packers about returning to the team, Favre asks Green Bay for his unconditional release, which would allow him to play for the team of his choice. Packers GM Ted Thompson says that the team will not release Favre and maintains that Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback.
July 14, 2008: Favre criticizes the Packers during an interview with Greta Van Susteren of the Fox News Channel.
July 16, 2008: The Packers file tampering charges against the Vikings, who reportedly had been in contact with Favre.
July 26, 2008: Packers head coach Mike McCarthy publicly states that Rodgers will be the team's starting quarterback, regardless of what happens with Favre.
July 29, 2008: Favre officially files for reinstatement from his retirement.
August 3, 2008: Favre arrives in Green Bay and receives a hero's welcome, as thousands of fans greet him at the airport. He attends an intra-squad Packers scrimmage at Lambeau Field, where he is seen waving to fans from a luxury box.
August 4, 2008: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell officially reinstates Favre, who is placed on the Packers' active roster. Favre meets with McCarthy for approximately five hours, but no resolution is reached.
August 5, 2008: After another meeting with McCarthy and Thompson, Favre leaves Lambeau Field. McCarthy announces at a news conference that Favre is finished with the Packers, claiming that the quarterback "does not have the right mindset to lead this football team." James "Bus" Cook, Favre's agent, says that his client has no plans to retire.
August 6, 2008: Favre flies to his home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as reports begin to circulate regarding possible trades with the Buccaneers, the front-runner, and the New York Jets. The Packers ultimately send Favre to the Jets, who agree to part with a conditional draft pick in a deal completed just before midnight.
August 7, 2008: After touring the team's practice facility in New Jersey, Favre boards a plane to join the Jets in Cleveland. Following an introductory news conference, Favre watches from the sideline as the Jets defeat the Browns, 24-20, in their preseason opener.
