Brett Favre: Iron Man Part 2

Brett Favre: Iron Man Part 2

Brett Favre: Iron Man Part 2

The second half of quarterback Brett Favre’s career in the National Football League remained as interesting as the first half as The Gunslinger would keep finding ways to win football games despite getting up in age. In 2001 Favre and the Green Bay Packers bounced back from an average 2000 campaign to make the playoffs with a 12-4 record. Favre once again started all 16 games, completing 314 of 510 pass attempts for 32 touchdowns and 3821 yards, recording a 61.6 completion percentage and throwing just 15 interceptions. In the playoffs Favre went 1-1, completing 48 of 73 passes for 4 touchdowns and 550 yards, recording a 65.8 completion percentage and throwing 7 interceptions.

On March 1, 2001 Favre signed a 10-year extension worth $100 Million which was considered by Green Bay management to be a “lifetime contract”, but time had a way with changing the direction of both Favre’s career and the future of the Packers franchise.

In 2002 Favre started all 16 games and went 12-4, completing 341 of 551 pass attempts for 27 touchdowns and 3658 yards, recording a 61.9 completion percentage and throwing just 16 interceptions. Favre and the Packers would have an early exit from postseason play as they fell to the Atlanta Falcons 27-7 in front of their home crowd at Lambeau Field on January 3, 2003.

In 2003 Favre again started all 16 games and went 10-6, completing 308 of 471 pass attempts for 32 touchdowns and 3361 yards, recording a 65.4 completion percentage and throwing 21 interceptions. On December 21, 2003 Favre’s father died of a heart attack, and to pay tribute to his dad Favre would play the next day on Monday Night Football against the Oakland Raiders at the Network Associates Coliseum. In a 41-7 win over the Raiders, Favre had one of the best games of his entire career as he posted a 73.3 completion percentage, completing 22 of 30 passes for 4 touchdowns and 399 yards. Favre would go 1-1 in the playoffs, completing 41 of 66 passes for 3 touchdowns and 499 yards, recording a 62.1 completion percentage and throwing just 1 interception.

In 2004 the Packers went 10-6 with Favre starting all 16 games, completing 346 of 540 pass attempts for 30 touchdowns and 4088 yards, recording a 64.1 completion percentage and throwing 17 interceptions. Unfortunately for Favre and the Packers they would have another early exit from postseason play as they fell to the Minnesota Vikings31-17 at Lambeau Field on January 9, 2005.

Starting all 16 games in 2005, Favre went 4-12, completing 372 of 607 pass attempts for 20 touchdowns and 3881 yards, recording a 61.3 completion percentage and throwing 29 interceptions. In 2006 Favre started all 16 games and went 8-8, completing 343 of 613 pass attempts for 18 touchdowns and 3885 yards, recording a 56 completion percentage and throwing 18 interceptions.

Favre would start all 16 games again in 2007, leading the Packers to a 13-3 record, completing 356 of 535 pass attempts for 28 touchdowns and 4155 yards, recording a 66.5 completion percentage and throwing 15 interceptions. The Packers returned to the playoffs but would fall short of reaching another Super Bowl as they fell to the eventual Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants in a thrilling 23-20 overtime encounter in the NFC Championship Game on January 20, 2008. Favre went 1-1 in the playoffs, completing 37 of 58 passes for 5 touchdowns and 409 yards, recording a 63.8 completion percentage and throwing 2 interceptions.

The Green Bay Packers ultimately decided to move on from Brett Favre as they knew they had another talented quarterback waiting in the wings. That quarterback’s name was Aaron Rodgers. Needing to do something with Favre, the Packers agreed to trade The Gunslinger to the New York Jets on August 7, 2008 in exchange for a 4th Round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft along with performance escalation.

Starting all 16 games with the New York Jets in 2008 Favre went 9-7, completing 343 of 522 pass attempts for 22 touchdowns and 3472 yards, recording a 65.7 completion percentage and throwing 22 interceptions. 2008 would be the only season for Favre in New York.

On April 28, 2009 the Jets released Favre and allowed him to sign with any other team as a free agent. On August 18 Favre found his new home in Minneapolis as he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Starting all 16 games yet again in 2009, Favre completed 363 of 531 pass attempts for 33 touchdowns and 4202 yards, recording a 68.4 completion percentage and throwing just 7 interceptions, by far the least amount of interceptions for a season in his career.

When he made his 271st consecutive start during the 2009 regular season Favre officially passed legendary Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall for the most consecutive starts for any player at any position. Taking the Vikings to one playoff appearance, Favre went 1-1, completing 43 of 70 passes for 5 touchdowns and 544 yards, recording a 61.4 completion percentage and throwing 2 interceptions.

2010 would be Brett Favre’s final year in the NFL, and his consecutive starts streak would end after 13 starts, going 5-8, completing 217 of 358 pass attempts for 11 touchdowns, recording a 60.6 completion percentage and throwing 19 interceptions. The many injuries that Favre had accumulated throughout his career had finally caught up to him, leading him to file for retirement on January 17, 2011.

Favre’s 297 consecutive starts (and 321 which includes the playoffs) remain as a record he owns in NFL history. Favre is only 1 of 8 quarterbacks to start 100 consecutive games. An amazing statistic to consider is that during Favre’s famous streak a total of 238 different quarterbacks started in the NFL, with 17 of them serving as Favre’s backup at one point.

Favre also holds records in most pass completions with 6,300, most passing attempts with 10,169, throwing the most interceptions with 336, and is tied with another great quarterback in Peyton Manning for the most wins with 186. In conclusion Favre’s credentials include him being the only quarterback to win 3 consecutive Associated Press Most Valuable Player awards in a row and the only quarterback to win a playoff game past the age of 40. In July 2015 Brett Favre was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, and months later on February 6, 2016 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, being placed in a special “Iron Man” section of the Hall.