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” about what comes next, even if he has CTE.
The 55-year-old revealed the devastating news in September 2024. Parkinson's is a “degenerative brain disease” that is “best known for causing slow movements, tremors (and) balance problems.”
'I have to admit I thought the world was collapsing before me. It was the end of the world. “I can't believe it, not me, I'm healthy, I'm very active, that doesn'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 the next step?”
It recently emerged that former Titans tight end Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died. Favre called the news “really scary” and said, “It makes me wonder what the future holds.”
Brett Favre admits he feared his Parkinson's diagnosis was 'the end of the world'
The former Packers quarterback revealed the devastating news in September 2024.
Family of late Tennessee Titans player Frank Wycheck announced he had CTE
He added: “I have already been diagnosed with Parkinson's. I often wonder – and I try not to but I can't help it – what the future holds… It doesn't surprise me… and the public isn't surprised at this point either.
“I think every player that dies from here on out, if they get a brain test, I would say a high percentage would have CTE and we're really just scratching the surface of how damaging head trauma can be. Concussions, primarily.
“And I think people take it seriously now, but there's still that 'Oh, you know' (view), almost like it's a fad, but we know it's not.”
The 55-year-old is already battling Parkinson's, but Favre said his mindset has changed in the months since he received the devastating diagnosis.
'Now that everything has calmed down, I'm fine, the medication I take controls the symptoms. “It doesn't help at all to stop the disease, there is always the fear of what will happen next, what the next step is,” he said.
'But I'm trying to live in the present and make the most of what I have.
'I'm very grateful, I'm very blessed, I've had 55 wonderful years and I have a wonderful family, a great support group. So I can't complain.