During his testimony at a congressional hearing on federal welfare reform, NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre made a startling revelation: he has been “recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.” Favre’s disclosure came amid a House Ways and Means Committee hearing focused on the proper oversight of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, a subject with which Favre has become deeply entangled.
Favre’s testimony highlighted the misuse of roughly $8 million in TANF funds, which were distributed to projects connected to him, including a volleyball stadium at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the now-defunct drug company Prevacus, where he was the largest individual investor. It was during his reference to Prevacus that Favre disclosed his health condition.
“Sadly, I lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug,” Favre stated. “I’m sure you’ll understand—it’s too late for me, as I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. But this remains a cause dear to my heart.”
Favre, who played 20 seasons in the NFL, suffering countless hits and injuries, has been open about the toll the game took on his health. In 2022, he revealed that he likely suffered “thousands” of concussions during his career. As a quarterback who set the NFL record for consecutive games played (321, including playoffs), his physical endurance came at a cost.
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In the documentary Concussed: The American Dream, Favre reflected on the price of his long career, saying, “Would I have done it differently had I known? I don’t know that.” His diagnosis of Parkinson’s—a degenerative neurological disease that impacts movement and for which there is no cure—adds another chapter to his long struggle with post-football health issues. Studies have increasingly linked repetitive head trauma from sports like football to increased risks of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s. A 2022 study from Boston University published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that football players had a 61% higher risk of developing the disease compared to the general population.
Favre’s congressional testimony also addressed the ongoing Mississippi welfare scandal, in which he has been accused of being involved in the misallocation of more than $90 million in TANF funds. Favre has maintained his innocence, insisting that he had no knowledge that the funds he helped secure for various projects came from TANF, which is meant to support the poorest families in Mississippi, the most impoverished state in the country.
After lobbying for funds, $5 million was funneled to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation for the construction of a volleyball facility, where Favre’s daughter was set to play. According to a 2017 deposition from former USM president Rodney Bennett, Favre had initially promised to personally cover the cost of the facility. Favre, in his prepared testimony, defended his intentions: “I wanted to help my alma mater and benefit the community. Southern Miss introduced me to the nonprofit to see if they could help with funding. I had no way of knowing there was anything wrong with how the state funded the project.”
That nonprofit, the Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), was run by Nancy New and her son, Zach New. The News, alongside former Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) director John Davis, were key players in the welfare scandal and have since pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal misallocation of funds. Favre, who was also a lead spokesperson for Prevacus, secured approximately $2 million in TANF funds for the drug company, which was developing treatments for concussions. None of the treatments have come close to reaching the market.
During his testimony, Favre mentioned Prevacus founder Jake VanLandingham, who recently pleaded guilty to wire fraud. “Recently, the doctor running this company pleaded guilty to improperly taking TANF money for his own use,” Favre said.
The controversy over the misuse of welfare funds first came to light in 2020, and while Favre has not been criminally charged, he is among 43 defendants in a lawsuit filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services seeking to recover the misspent funds. Text messages exchanged between Favre, Davis, and VanLandingham have raised questions about Favre’s awareness of the source of the funds. In one text, Favre asked Nancy New, “If you were to pay me, is there anyway [sic] the media can find out where it came from and how much?”—a message that has fueled public scrutiny.
Favre has since returned $1.1 million he received for promotional appearances, but the state auditor is still seeking over $700,000 in unpaid interest, which Favre disputes.
As Favre continues to fight the legal battle related to the TANF scandal, his health challenges have added another layer of complexity to his situation. With his diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Favre faces an uncertain future while simultaneously trying to defend his legacy and maintain his public reputation.
Alongside Favre, other prominent figures, including ACLU executive director Jarvis Dortch and Foundation for Government Accountability Policy director Sam Adolphsen, testified at the congressional hearing.
However, Favre’s testimony came under the protection of a suppression order related to the MDHS lawsuit, allowing him to avoid testifying directly about the ongoing legal battle.
While Favre’s football accomplishments and public stature remain in the spotlight, his battle with Parkinson’s and the Mississippi welfare scandal have thrust him into a different kind of public scrutiny—one that will continue to shape his legacy long after his playing days are over.
