Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is regarded as one of the most decorated players in NFL history. When he retired after the 2010 season, he held the record for the most career touchdown passes with 508—far ahead of Dan Marino, who was second with 420 at the time. Since then, Favre has dropped to fourth on the all-time list, surpassed by Tom Brady (647), Drew Brees (571), and Peyton Manning (539).
Favre also made history as the first NFL player to win three MVP Awards, achieving the feat in three consecutive seasons—something no other player has done. He also guided the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI, ending the franchise’s 29-year wait for a championship.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre Has Been Embroiled in Controversy
Despite his numerous achievements on the field, Brett Favre was a polarizing figure even during his NFL career—and that scrutiny has only intensified since his retirement. This is explored in detail in the Netflix documentary The Fall of Favre.
The film centers on the scandal that emerged during Favre’s time with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was accused of sending explicit photos to New York Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger. Sterger plays a prominent role in the documentary, which revisits the controversy and its aftermath.
The documentary also touches on allegations of infidelity during Favre’s tenure in Green Bay. A former Packers reporter recalls refusing to write a story portraying Favre as a devoted family man, saying, “I don’t write fiction.”
What made the Sterger incident particularly shocking was its timing—Favre allegedly sent the messages while his wife, Deanna, was battling breast cancer, a fact that added a deeper layer of public outrage given their long-standing marriage.
An Old Article Deanna Favre Wrote Has Resurfaced Amid the Netflix Documentary Release
The renewed focus on Brett Favre’s past scandals has brought a 2007 article written by his wife, Deanna Favre, back into the spotlight. In the piece, originally published in Guideposts magazine, Deanna offers a candid and emotional account of their rocky marriage, including Brett’s struggle with addiction and his drastic personality changes over time.
She recounts how, after following Brett to Green Bay, she found that the gentle man she once knew had turned into someone entirely different—loud, abrasive, and prone to disappearing without explanation. “For the first time I saw a mean streak in him,” she wrote, describing his unpredictable behavior and severe mood swings.
Deanna eventually discovered that Brett was addicted to painkillers, a consequence of the many injuries he endured during his career. He sought treatment at The Menninger Clinic, and the couple went through counseling. “He was once again the best friend I’d ever had—and by now my husband,” she reflected.
The article was published during Brett’s final season with the Packers, which ended in a heartbreaking loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. The Sterger scandal—stemming from incidents in 2008 during Favre’s time with the Jets—didn’t come to light until 2010.
Despite the turmoil, Brett and Deanna Favre remain married.
