Packers Legend Brett Favre Lost 30 Inches of His Intestines Before He Ever Played in the NFL
Brett Favre is one of the most well-known quarterbacks in NFL history. But he almost never made it to the pros. While attending Southern Miss, Favre was involved in a nearly fatal car accident. The future NFL player survived the wreck, but 30 inches of his intestines did not. And Favre’s injuries continued to add up as he experienced his 20-year NFL career.
Brett Favre’s NFL accomplishments
In the 20 years Favre spent in the NFL, he managed to get near the top of the league’s career leaderboards in several passing categories. His 10,169 attempts and 6,300 completions both rank third in league history, and he is fourth in both passing yards (71,838) and passing touchdowns (508).
But one of the biggest knocks against the longtime Packer was his gunslinger mentality, which resulted in 336 interceptions, more than any other player has thrown in league history.
Favre was also sacked more often than anyone else, with 525 on his ledger. He is an 11-time Pro Bowler who won three MVPs and led the Packers to a Super Bowl title. All of that helped Favre earn a bust in Canton; he was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Favre’s car accident in college
ThePostGame recalls Favre’s car accident during his collegiate career. It was July 1990, and Favre was going fishing in Alabama with his brother and two of his teammates. One of the players went back to his hotel; the other three traveled back to Kiln, Miss., 95 miles away. They took two cars, with Favre driving his 1989 Maxima.
The accident happened around 7:45 pm near the Favres’ home, but the details are unclear. The future QB recalls that he “slid off the road” while traveling at about double the 35-mile-per-hour speed limit. He says his right front tire “hit some loose gravel on the shoulder.” Because of his speed, “the car shot across the road.”
The other members of Favre’s party saw the accident and pulled him out of the car. But he was unresponsive when they did. He went to the emergency room and was told he wouldn’t be able to play football the next season. But he did. In the wake of the wreck, Favre had a blood blockage that led to the extraction of 30 inches of his intestines.
Favre’s injuries during his football career
Throughout two decades in the NFL, Favre suffered 19 injuries, according to ESPN. The laundry list of maladies includes a first-degree left-shoulder separation, right-elbow tendinitis, a torn right biceps, and likely multiple concussions.
Perhaps the most notable injury of his career was a chronic hip condition that started in 1992. As ESPN writes, it almost prevented him from being traded from the Falcons to the Packers. The official diagnosis is avascular necrosis. Favre describes it as “a lack of blood supply to a socket.” The condition appearing on MRIs made several teams apprehensive about acquiring him.
When the Packers agreed to trade for Favre, he failed the physical but then-GM Ron Wolf told the medical staff to pass him — a decision that ultimately proved to be the correct one for Green Bay. Favre’s hip condition is the same way that affected former NFL and MLB star Bo Jackson.
