Brett Favre was football royalty before the controversy made headlines, before the lawsuits, and long before Netflix’s Untold: The Fall of Favre served as a warning. In the NFL, the Mississippi gunslinger redefined toughness and resilience. By the end of his career, Favre had set almost every major throwing record. The first quarterback to reach 70,000 passing yards, 10,000 pass attempts, and 500 touchdowns. He was also a three-time MVP (1995–1997) and Super Bowl champion. He became known as the NFL’s iron man after starting an NFL-record 297 straight games, including 321 playoff games.

Favre played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007. He guided the Packers to two Super Bowl berths, seven division crowns, one championship, and eleven postseason trips. He was the beating heart of Titletown for more than ten years. However, as Untold exposes, the Packers’ legendary player turned became the mastermind behind his own demise, unfortunately, shortly after the team selected his ultimate replacement.

Favre’s ending started with a name: Aaron Rodgers. “With the 24th selection in the 2005 NFL Draft,” Packers GM Ted Thompson said, “the Green Bay Packers select Aaron Rodgers, quarterback from California.” In Netflix’s Untold: The Fall of Favre, long-time reporters depict a quarterback whose invincibility began to crumble the moment Green Bay decided to get ready for life without him. According to one reporter, Michaels, “When Ted Thompson, who was the general manager at the time, drafted Aaron, that was it. That was the beginning of the end.”

It didn’t sit well with Favre. The Packers had a 4-12 season in 2005. More damning than the record was Favre’s demeanor. “He stopped being as available as he had been previously,” said reporter Tomlinson. “You didn’t really see him except in passing. He wasn’t in the locker room with the rest of the team.” The writing on the wall was visible to some. But others refused to read it. “There would be some people that were like, yeah, he’s not the player he used to be. But other people would be like, how dare you ever criticise, you know, Brett Favre,” Tomlinson continued.

According to the documentary, Favre’s passive-aggressive retirement hints also didn’t help. Every off-season turned into a soap opera. “Brett hemmed and hawed about it,” Michaels recalled. “You could easily shut it down as an athlete and say, I don’t want to talk about it. But he would talk about it. And every year, it became a discussion.” Favre himself acknowledged the wear and tear. “This might be it this year. It might be two years down the road. For the last seven years, we’ve been talking about when I was leaving. Something’s got to give at some point.”

In the end, something did give. Aaron Rodgers stayed ready. Favre stayed uncertain. The Packers moved on. In the end, Untold implies that Favre pulled the trigger himself and wasn’t forced out. He made himself replaceable because he felt threatened.

In the wake of controversy, Brett Favre leans on his roots

Brett Favre is choosing a different limelight, even though the documentary may delve deeply into his flaws. Leslie Joyce, a former elementary school teacher, was watching a memorial movie back in May 2020 when Brett Favre appeared on the screen. He said affectionately, “YOU are that person… you deserve to ride off into the sunset.” It was more than just a message to Joyce; it was a lifeline amid a farewell plagued by the pandemic. However, it was personal for Favre.

Why? Because he was the son of two Gulfport, Mississippi, teachers before becoming Brett Favre, the football god. Irvin Ernest Favre and Bonita Ann Favre served as his foundation. And even now, decades later, Favre hasn’t let go of that root.

Following a visit to a school with his wife, Deanna, earlier this week, Favre shared an update on Instagram. The caption said: “Both my parents were educators, so I believe it’s teachers who truly care about their students that are going to make the biggest difference in those young people’s lives.” Favre’s football career is closely linked to his respect for educators, particularly his father. Irvin was more than simply his father; he was also his motivator, coach, and critic. Despite its complexity, their relationship drove Brett to success.

Following a documentary that analyses his fall, Favre is attempting to reinforce his legacy in classrooms with the next generation, where the impact endures beyond a reputation. His records, rings, and unwavering devotion permanently marked the football legacy of Brett Favre. However, Untold serves as a reminder that heroes are most vulnerable when they lose sight of their motivations. If Favre’s post-football purpose demonstrates anything, it’s that he still wants to matter for something better, even though he may never escape the scandals.