Brett Favre.

Brett Favre. Brett Favre, born in 1969, American football player, who as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers was the first player to earn three consecutive National Football League (NFL) most valuable player awards (1995-1997). He also led the Packers to two Super Bowl appearances, following the 1996 and 1997 seasons. At the time of his retirement in 2008, Favre held a number of NFL records, including most touchdown passes (442), career passing yards (61,655), and career completions (5,377). He also held the record for most victories as a starting quarterback (160). Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Brett Lorenzo Favre grew up in Kiln, Mississippi. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. As a collegian in 1990 he was involved in a serious automobile accident, but a month later he paced his team to a victory over the University of Alabama. The Atlanta Falcons selected Favre in the second round of the 1991 NFL draft. He played in only two games as a rookie in 1991 and was then traded to the Green Bay Packers. In the third game of the 1992 season, Favre filled in for injured Packers quarterback Don Majkowski; he performed so well that he won the starting job for the remainder of the season. He set a team record by completing 64.1 percent of his passes. In 1993 Favre led the National Football Conference (NFC) with 318 completions, and in 1994 he finished second in the balloting for player of the year. He led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game after the 1995 campaign, and for his performance that season he was voted most valuable player by the Associated Press. Favre threw 33 touchdown passes in 1994 and 38 in 1995--only the fifth time in NFL history that a quarterback threw at least 30 touchdowns in consecutive seasons. Favre was again voted most valuable player in 1996 with 39 touchdown passes, and he led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. He turned in another outstanding performance during the 1997 season; his 35 touchdown passes made him the only quarterback in NFL history to throw 30 or more touchdown passes in four consecutive seasons. This helped him earn yet another most valuable player award. Favre also led Green Bay to the NFC championship, but the Packers lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII, 31-24. In September 2007 Favre surpassed Dan Marino for most touchdown passes in a career. His 421st touchdown pass to set the record came in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. Favre led the Packers to the National Conference title game after the 2007 season but the team lost to the New York Giants. In March 2008 Favre announced his retirement from professional football. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.