Everything ya need to know...
A certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, Brett Favre in 2007 embarks upon his 16th season in his adopted city of Green Bay
Among the most exciting players in pro football annals ever to line up at quarterback, Favre, now in his 17th NFL campaign, stands as one of the game's most productive signal callers
The league's all-time leader in passing touchdowns (425), completions (5,202), and attempts (8,224) ; ranks second in passing yards (59,546) behind the prolific Dan Marino
With 153 victories as quarterback, ranks 1st ahead of John Elway (148) and Marino (147)
Celebrated even more than his prodigious numbers is his legendary durability.
Upon taking over the reins as the Green and Gold's signal caller Sept. 20, 1992, has started the ensuing 244 contests, a record for NFL quarterbacks and, astoundingly, the second-longest recorded streak in league annals
During 15 campaigns under center for Green Bay, has led Packers to 10 postseason appearances, including six division crowns, three NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls and a World Championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI
The former Southern Mississippi leader's success is partially attributed to a commanding knowledge of his offense, astute observation of countless defenses designed to stop him and physical ability - especially renowned arm strength
But his legacy transcends the passes, the touchdowns and the statistics: the inspiring leader will go down as one of the most beloved players of his generation
The swashbuckling Southerner embodies the heart of America's favorite game
Stands as one of the most respected players among his peers and coaches, as well
His hard-working approach and down-to-earth attitude appeals to football fans across the nation
Favre once again topped the Harris Poll, in a survey of American sports fans, as the nation's favorite football player in 2006 and placed third among all sports figures, behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan
The quarterback earlier topped the 2003 and '04 Harris Polls and placed second to the Colts' Peyton Manning in '05
In another measure of his popularity, in 2006 he ranked first among active NFL players in Sports QScore, a prominent rating survey conducted for marketing and advertising purposes; overall he trailed only Woods and Jordan
His legendary grit was saluted twice recently as well
In February 2004, he was named as the No. 1 'Toughest Athlete in Sports' by USA Today
Then, transcending sports, in the March 2004 issue of Men's Journal, he was chosen as the No. 1 'Toughest Guy in America' on the basis of his "fearlessness, perseverance, a willingness to take risk, a tolerance for pain and even a dash of modesty"
In further similar documentation, a 2005 nationwide vote of more than a half-million viewers for The Discovery Channel's special, '100 Greatest Americans,' ranked Favre No. 89
CONSISTENTLY ONE OF THE BEST
At the top of his game throughout his career, he is one of the most worthy adversaries for defensive coordinators
As recently as 2004, helped the Packers to establish all-time franchise records for total net yards (6,357), net yards passing (4,449), first downs (354) and completions (382) as Green Bay finished third among NFL offenses; his output included a combination of 4,000-plus yards and 30 TDs, the third such season in his distinguished career
Selected as an alternate for the 2004 Pro Bowl, his eight Pro Bowl selections are one short of Forrest Gregg's team record, nine
AMONG ALL-TIME GREATS
Long considered one of the NFL's best ever, ranks high on a number of the league's all-time lists
Over the course of 2006, extended three other NFL records and established another
He padded three streaks: seasons with at least 300 completions (15), seasons with at least 3,000 yards passing (15) and consecutive starts by a quarterback (237)
Extended another all-time mark with 3,000 yards in a 15th overall season
Plus, finished 2006 with 5,021 career completions, more than any NFL passer ever, surpassing Marino (4,967) in 2006
One year earlier, swiped Elway's single-stadium TD pass record (180 at Mile High Stadium), improving his Lambeau Field total in 2006 to 195
Is one of only four quarterbacks in league history to post as many as four 4,000-yard seasons (also doing so in 1995, '98-99); Marino (6), Peyton Manning (7) and Warren Moon (4) are the others
With three 300-yard passing performances in 2006, now has 48 such career outings - tops among active NFL players
Is the NFL's most accurate passer among those with at least 6,000 career attempts, his 61.1 career completion percentage placing him ahead of No. 2 Marino (59.4 percent)
Has solidified his standing among the game's all-time elite by earning the NFL's 'MVP' honor a record three times, capturing the Associated Press award over the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons; he was runner-up in 2002 as well
Honored in "co-status" with the Detroit Lions' Barry Sanders in 1997, he became the first player in league history to win the award three times, let alone in three consecutive years
Incomparability of the strong-armed Southerner is further evidenced by his selection in 2000 to the 1990s NFL All-Decade second team as voted by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Also ranked as the ninth-best player in 'NFL Player of the Century' voting, conducted on nfl.com during the 1999 season
Collaborated with former Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman for 57 touchdown passes from 1995-2001, the sixth-best such duo in NFL history
With it being impossible for someone to better it, will be the permanent possessor of at least one all-time NFL record - that for longest pass completion - as he hooked up with wideout Robert Brooks for a 99-yard score in a 1995 game at Chicago
In 2003 became part of the second-longest rush in NFL annals, handing off to Ahman Green on a play that resulted in a 98-yard TD, vs. Denver in the season finale
WILL FINISH AS A PACKER
Will finish his career in Green Bay after signing a "lifetime" contract on March 1, 2001
Then-head coach Mike Sherman, calling the signing day "historic," commented on the uniqueness of Favre's relationship with the Packers' organization and fans, saying, "No player in the NFL identifies, or is more closely linked to, a specific team like Brett Favre is to the Green Bay Packers. He embodies the spirit and character of Packer fans everywhere. I do not think there is a player in the NFL that experiences a relationship with the fans like Brett Favre does. That is very, very special."
Favre echoed the sentiment, saying, "I enjoy it here. I don't want to move. I enjoy the fans and I just want to stay. I couldn't envision myself playing for another team."
A WINNER
Throughout his career, has disdained talk of statistics, concerning himself most with his team's victories
And in 2007, can assert himself as the NFL's winningest quarterback ever; enters with 147 wins, needing only one to break a tie with No. 2 Marino (147) and two to bypass all-time leader Elway (148)
From 1992-2004, won at least eight games an NFL-record 13 consecutive seasons, substantially better than the next closest player, Ken Stabler, who had eight straight .500-or-better seasons from 1973-80
Rebounding in 2006, has finished without a losing record in 14 of his 15 years as the Packers' starter, having entered the season's final weekend in playoff contention for all but one campaign
Also has led the Packers to an NFL-best 147-90 record since taking over as the starter in the fourth week of the 1992 season
His record as a leader consists of 10 playoff berths, including a club-record six in a row (1993-98), three straight NFC Central Division crowns (1995-97), three NFC North Division titles in a row (2002-04), three consecutive NFC Championship games (1995, 1996, 1997) and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including a 35-21 victory over New England in Super Bowl XXXI, returning the Lombardi Trophy to Green Bay for the first time in 29 years
Upon defeating Chicago in December of 2000, became the third-fastest player in the NFL since 1970 to reach 100 regular-season victories, doing so in his 153rd career start; only Joe Montana (139) and Terry Bradshaw (147) got to the century mark quicker over the past 37 seasons
Since his first year as a starter in 1992, holds a 46-17 record (.730) in regular-season games in December, the fourth-best mark among NFL starters who have begun their careers since 1970 (min. 20 starts); Tom Brady (.840, 21-4), Joe Theismann (.773, 17-5) and Montana (.767, 33-10) rank just ahead in December winning percentage
Owns 36 career fourth-quarter or overtime comebacks (which includes three postseason contests)
A game conductor of the highest caliber, has led the Packers to a nearly perfect 54-2 regular-season record since 1992 in games where they have more rushing attempts than passing attempts
DOMINANTLY DURABLE
As indestructable as football players come, has started an NFL-quarterback-record 237 consecutive regular-season contests (257 including playoffs) - 93 games (equivalent of better than five-and-a-half seasons) more than the next closest streak among league QBs all-time, 144 by Manning (1998-2006)
Only six active veterans across the league - all kickers - have played as many or more games than Favre (241): Morten Andersen (368), Jeff Feagles (304), John Carney (261), Matt Stover (255), Chris Gardocki (244) and Junior Seau (also 241)
Played much of the 2003 season with a broken thumb on his right (throwing) hand
In 2006 surpassed Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews (229, 1987-2001) for the third-longest recorded starting streak of all-time, and now trails only two