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It’s finally happening, and the legend has confirmed it. The Green Bay Packers released a statement on Sunday that they would be announcing some big news on Monday. Long-time Packers quarterback Brett Favre confirmed all the speculation – he’d be returning to Titletown to be inducted to the team’s Hall of Fame and have his #4 jersey retired.
“I’m pleased to announce that I will be returning to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2015 for induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and retirement of my jersey,” Favre said in a statement, “It was a tremendous honor to play 16 years for the Green Bay Packers…I’m truly looking forward to celebrating and sharing this special moment with all of the great fans of the Green Bay Packers.”
Many wondered when this day would come – or if it’d come at all – as Favre and the Packers agreed to push his jersey retirement back further and further each year. There was a wide belief that either the Packers or Favre had feared boos among the crowd with his return, but Favre cleared the record in a recent interview, saying that he never feared that at all.
Regardless of the reason for the delay, the time is finally coming in 2015, as all wounds will truly begin to heal as arguably Green Bay’s most deserving player in team history will be inducted into their Hall of Fame and have his #4 jersey officially retired.
Despite spending 16 glorious seasons with the green and gold and leading the Packers to two straight Super Bowls (with one win), Favre arguably tainted his Packer legacy by demanding for a trade following the 2007 season. Favre’s constant waffling on retirement caused GM Ted Thompson to move on with Aaron Rodgers going into the 2008 season, which led to Favre’s infamous remark, “give me my helmet or release me”.
Favre was subsequently traded to the New York Jets, where he spent one season. It wasn’t until he suited up for the rival Minnesota Vikings the next season that he really spurned his loyal Packer fans, though, as Favre marched into Lambeau Field two times over the course of the 2009 and 2010 seasons, defeating his former team once on his old turf, and another time in Minnesota.
Favre understandably got boos from the many thousands of former fans in those games, but he and the team will be looking (and hoping) for a much different result this time around.
