> At a Glance
> – Brett Favre posted on X Jan. 7 to deny reports he has “given up hope” against Parkinson’s
> – The uproar began after he said on his Jan. 1 podcast that he’s “not holding my breath” for a cure
> – Diagnosed in Sept. 2024, the 56-year-old describes rigidity and late-day fatigue, not tremors
> – Why it matters: High-profile misinterpretations show how chronic-illness comments can spiral
Social-media posts claiming Brett Favre has surrendered to Parkinson’s disease forced the Hall of Fame quarterback to clarify he’s “not going to start now” after a lifetime of refusing to quit.
The Post That Started It All
On Jan. 7, Favre wrote on X:
> “Thank you everyone for your prayers and concerns, but contrary to reports, I have not given up hope in my battle with Parkinson’s!”
He added the same gridiron grit that defined his 20-year NFL career:
> “Just like I never gave up on the gridiron – not going to start now.”
The pushback followed a Jan. 1 episode of his 4th & Favre podcast where he discussed life with the disease.
- Describes “very little shaking” except when fatigued
- Main symptoms: rigidity, stiffness, occasional memory lapses
- Acknowledged no cure exists and timelines remain uncertain
Misread Comments Go Viral
Favre’s remark – “I’m not holding my breath” for a five-year cure – was clipped and shared by accounts including Dov Kleiman, whose post drew 2.4 million views and the headline “Heartbreaking… Favre says he has GIVEN UP HOPE.”
Speaking to TMZ the same day as his X post, Favre doubled down:
> “I have absolutely not given up and I am fighting till the end.”
He admitted progression “a little faster” than hoped yet remains thankful.
Diagnosis Revealed in 2024
The former Green Bay Packers star first disclosed the diagnosis in September 2024 while testifying before Congress about welfare-funding litigation, saying:
> “I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”
Key Takeaways
- Favre stresses optimism despite realistic view of cure timeline
- Social media amplified a clipped quote into “giving up” narrative
- Hall of Famer likens resolve to his never-say-quit playing days
- Parkinson’s mainly affects his stiffness, with minimal tremors so far
Favre continues to use his platform to raise awareness while making one point unmistakably clear: retirement from football never meant retirement from the fight ahead.
