NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre on Tuesday revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Favre made the disclosure during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on welfare reform, where he was testifying about his involvement in a Mississippi welfare scandal.
Parkinson’s, a degenerative disorder that affects movement and brain function, is often linked to head trauma, something Favre is no stranger to after his 20-year NFL career.
“I recently found out I have Parkinson’s, which is close to my heart because of the potential connection to concussions,” Favre said. The former NFL star had invested in Prevacus, a company developing a concussion drug, which received $2 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. Favre’s connection to the company is now under scrutiny as part of the welfare misuse case.
The scandal revolves around $77 million in TANF funds that were diverted from Mississippi’s poorest residents to benefit wealthy individuals and organizations. Favre has consistently denied any wrongdoing. However, text messages from 2017 and 2018 show he reached out to state officials asking for help securing funding for Prevacus and a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, his alma mater. Favre also received $1.1 million in TANF funds for speaking engagements he reportedly did not attend, though he repaid that amount.
During the hearing, Favre claimed he didn’t understand where the funds were coming from when securing money for the projects. “I didn’t know what TANF funds were,” he said. He also expressed frustration with the scandal’s impact on his reputation. “I was labeled a person who stole welfare money, and that’s the lowest of the low. It’s not true,” Favre stated.
Despite the controversy, Favre faced mostly light questioning from the committee, with some members even praising his football career. However, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-California) directly challenged him on his role in the misuse of welfare funds, asking if he thought it was acceptable to divert funds meant for struggling families—Favre denied this, asserting he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.
