Packers throw Brett Favre 'welcome home' party, retire No. 4 at halftime - Starr in attendan
Sporting News - Ron Clements
Green Bay, WI
Brett Favre spent 16 of his 20 NFL seasons with the Packers, who added his No. 4 to the Lambeau Field north end zone facade Thursday.
Favre's jersey retirement ceremony and the number unveiling on the facade occurred at halftime of Thursday's game against their NFC North rival Bears, with the Packers trailing 14-13.
Favre is just the sixth Packers player to have his number retired — joining Tony Canadeo, Bart Starr, Don Hutson, Ray Nitschke and Reggie White. The 81-year-old Starr, who led the Packers to five NFL championships from 1961-67, was in attendance for the ceremony. Favre was greeted at midfield by several of his former teammates from the Packers' 1996 and '97 Super Bowl teams.
Packers president Mark Murphy introduced Favre to a celebratory crowd by saying, "Welcome home."
"It is Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for," Favre said. "I think back to our time in Green Bay. I certainly thank God for giving me the opportunity to play the game for so long and in the best place to play football."
Favre thanked his family and teammates in attendance, saying "that jersey retirement is shared by those guys." After Favre thanked the fans, Starr rode out to midfield with his wife, Cherry, on a golf cart and the only two quarterbacks to lead the Packers to multiple Super Bowls embraced after exchanging pleasantries.
Originally drafted out of Southern Mississippi by the Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, Favre was traded to the Packers in 1992 in a deal orchestrated by former general manager Ron Wolf, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. Four years after joining the Packers, Favre helped Green Bay become Titletown yet again after the Packers won their first championship since 1967.
During his time with the Packers, Favre led the team to consecutive Super Bowls, with the one title, and became the first player to win three NFL MVP awards. When the Packers inducted Favre into the team's hall of fame earlier this summer, Wolf called Favre the greatest player to ever play for the Packers.
Favre was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and retired in 2010 as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions, attempts, touchdowns and wins. The NFL’s Iron Man, Favre set an NFL record with 321 consecutive games played (including the playoffs). He was named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and is a lock for induction next year in his first year of eligibility.
Because Favre played the game with a contagious, boyhood enthusiasm, he became one of the league's most beloved and respected players. Favre initially announced his retirement following the 2007 season, after leading the team to the NFC championship game. Favre changed his mind, but the Packers were ready to move on with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. That led to an ugly divorce from Green Bay and he was eventually traded to the Jets.
After one season in New York, Favre drew the ire of many Packers fans by playing his final two seasons for division rival Minnesota. With both sides willing to leave any bad blood in the past, Thursday's ceremony was long overdue.
Favre said his only regret was not being able to play longer for coach Mike Holmgren, who coached Favre and the Packers from 1992-98 before leaving for Seattle. Favre believed the two could have won more than just one championship had they remained together in Green Bay.