Brett Favre putting new career, charity work on hold

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who retired earlier this week, has no immediate plans to go into television broadcasting or try his hand at another career.

At a press conference at Lambeau Field in Green Bay Thursday, Favre was asked what his future plans were now that he had retired after 17 seasons in the National Football League, including 16 years as the Packers' quarterback.

"Nothing," he said. "This is all I've ever done. This is a new phase in my life. I don't know what that exactly means. I am going to stick to that until I want to do something else."

Favre is retiring after leading a young team to a remarkable 13-3 regular season and an appearance in the NFC championship game, where the team lost to eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

During the 2007 season, he broke several of the top quarterback records including passing yards, touchdown passes and wins. For years, he holds the all-time consecutive starts record for a quarterback of 253.

Favre has been invaluable to the Green Bay Packers during his 17 years on the field. He is also a big draw in the merchandise category, attracting upwards of $1 million in sales of Favre-related merchandise at the Packers' retail shop and Web site in fiscal 2006.

Favre is one of the most popular athletes in Wisconsin sports history and had been a pitchman for several state and national companies, including Wrangler Jeans and Bergstrom Auto.

But for the time being, he does not plan to have much of a public profile.

"I am going out on top," he said. "I could care less what other people think. It's what I think. It's been a wonderful career. As time passes, I don't know what I will do. I will take it as it comes."

Deanna Favre said that she hopes she and her husband will still be involved in charity work in Wisconsin in the future, "but I don't think it will be as extensive as it has been in the past."

She and her husband are taking a break from all public events for a year, including the Brett Favre celebrity softball game played annually in Appleton.

"Honestly, we both are really tired," Deanna Favre said.

Brett Favre said he's retiring because he was ready to leave the game.

"I don't think I have anything left to give," he said. "I think I can play. But I just don't think I can give anything else other than the three hours on Sunday. As I look back over my career, (I have) no regrets."

Favre said it was a tough decision.

"It's a unique situation as I had one of the better years in my career," he said. "Team had a great year. Everything seems to be going great. (But) There's no guarantees next year, personally and as a team. It's a tough business. I'm not up to the challenge anymore."

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