WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Retired NFL quarterback has been diagnosed with , he told a congressional committee Tuesday.
Favre made the disclosure as part of his testimony about a welfare misspending scandal in Mississippi. Favre, who does not face criminal charges, has repaid just over $1 million in speaking fees funded by a welfare program in the state and was also an investor in a biotech company with ties to the case. The biotech firm has said it was developing concussion treatments.
The former football star told the committee that he lost his investment in the company 鈥渢hat I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others.鈥�
鈥淎s I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l understand, while it鈥檚 too late for me 鈥� I鈥檝e recently been diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 鈥� this is also a cause dear to my heart,鈥� Favre said.
What causes Parkinson's disease is unknown, and it is unclear if Favre's disease is connected to his football career or head injuries. He said in 2022 that he estimates he experienced 鈥渢housands鈥� of concussions in his two decades in the NFL.
Favre appeared at the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee hearing to advocate reform of the federal welfare system to better prevent fraud.
鈥淭he challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years鈥攂ecause certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse, and are unjustifiably trying to blame me, those challenges have hurt my good name and are worse than anything I faced in football,鈥� Favre said.
have said a Mississippi welfare misspending scandal involving Favre and others points to the need for an overhaul in the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
the payments he received came from welfare funds and has noted his charity had provided millions of dollars to poor kids in his home state of Mississippi and in Wisconsin, where he played most of his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press
