NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre reveals Parkinson's diagnosis during testimony on TANF funds fraud case

WASHINGTON, DC: Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback for Green Bay Packers, revealed on Tuesday, September 24, that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

The announcement came while he testified before Congress regarding allegations of his misuse of taxpayer money.

Favre, 54, made the diagnosis public as he discussed his involvement with a concussion drug company, Prevacus, which has been tied to controversy.

Brett Favre discloses Parkinson's disease diagnosis during testimony before Congress

The NFL player was testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee in Washington about the misuse of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. In doing so, he disclosed his recent Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

At least $77 million in TANF funds, reserved for poor families, were diverted to the rich and powerful, as per ABC News.

Favre mentioned his financial loss in Prevacus, stating before announcing the diagnosis, "Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others."

“I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Favre shared.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements, including shaking, and affects balance and coordination. "Symptoms start slowly," as per Mayo Clinic, which are "barely noticeable."

Over time, these symptoms worsen causing stiffness and can lead to difficulties in walking and speaking.

Brett Favre on Prevacus controversy and misuse of TANF funds allegations

Brett Favre’s involvement with Prevacus, a concussion drug company, became a focal point of the hearing.

The company received $2 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.

Favre has been accused of improperly leveraging political connections to redirect public money for personal and institutional use, including to his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter was a player, according to NBC News.

He was also linked to receiving funds for the speaking engagements he did not attend.

Favre responded to these accusations while defending his efforts to support causes he believed in, including concussion research. He acknowledged that while his investment in Prevacus didn’t pan out, the issue remained a "cause dear to my heart."

"This is also a cause dear to my heart. Recently, the doctor, running the company pleaded guilty to taking (public) money for his own use," he said during the congressional hearing. 

Prevacus' founder, Jacob VanLandingham, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July and admitted that he used Mississippi welfare money to pay off gambling and other debts.

Brett Favre's earlier hint of developing Parkinson's disease

Before discussing his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, Brett Favre, who played in 20 NFL seasons, had already shared concerns about his health.

In a 2018 interview with Megyn Kelly on 'TODAY', when he was 48, he talked about his deteriorating short-term memory and struggles with word retrieval.

"It has gotten a lot worse in regards to short-term, simple words that normally would come out easy in a conversion, I’ll stammer,” Favre mentioned.

"I wonder if that’s what it is or do I have early stages of CTE. I don’t know," he said, reflecting on his condition at the age of 48.

More recently in 2022, Favre said he may have suffered “thousands” of concussions in an appearance on 'The Bubba Army' radio show.

“Concussions happen all the time. You get tackled and your head hits the turf, you see flashes of light or ringing in your ears, but you’re able to play… That’s a concussion,” Favre said at the time as New York Post mentioned.

“So, based on that, [I’ve suffered] thousand — had to be. Because every time my head hit the turf, there was ringing or stars going, flash bulbs...,” he detailed.