NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre feared “the world was falling apart” after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
And the former Packers quarterback has admitted he’s “scared” of what comes next, including whether he has CTE.
The 55-year-old revealed the devastating news in September 2024. Parkinson’s is a “degenerative brain disorder” that is “best known for causing slowed movements, tremors (and) balance problems.”
‘I have to admit, I thought the world was giving in to me. It was the end of the world – I can’t believe this, I don’t, I’m healthy, I’m very active, it won’t happen to me,” he said TMZ.
A few months after revealing his diagnosis, the former quarterback – who also played for the Jets, Vikings and Falcons – admitted: “There’s always the fear of what’s going to happen next – what’s next?”
It was recently revealed that former Titans tight end Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died. Favre called the news “really scary” and said, “I wonder what the future holds for me.”
Brett Favre has admitted he feared his Parkinson’s diagnosis was ‘the end of the world’
The former Packers quarterback revealed the devastating news in September 2024
The family of late Tennessee Titans player Frank Wycheck announced that he had CTE
He added: ‘I’ve already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I often wonder – and I try not to, but I can’t help it – what the future holds… I’m not surprised… and the audience isn’t surprised at this point either.
“I would think that every player who dies from now on, if his brain is tested, would (have) a high rate of CTE and we’re only just exploring how damaging head trauma can be – concussions, especially.
“And I think people are taking it seriously now, but there’s still that ‘Ah, you know’ (view), almost like it’s a fad, but we know it’s not.”
The 55-year-old has been battling Parkinson’s disease, but Favre said his mindset has changed in the months since he received the devastating diagnosis.
‘Now that the dust has settled I am doing well, the medicine I am taking is keeping the symptoms under control. It does nothing to stop the disease, there is always the fear of what happens next, what is the next step,” he said.
‘But I try to live in the present and just make the best of what I have.
“I’m very grateful, I’m very blessed, I’ve had 55 wonderful years and I have a great family, a great support group. So I can’t complain.