Count Brett Favre among the parents who would think twice before allowing a son to play football. In the same week that ESPN's "Outside The Lines" reported that participation in Pop Warner, the nation's largest youth football program, had dropped by 9.5% from 2010-2012, the retired NFL star told Matt Lauer of "Today" that if he had a son he "would be real leery of him playing."
"In some respects, I'm almost glad I don't have a son because of the pressures he would face," The 44-year-old retired quarterback told Lauer. "Also the physical toll that it could possibly take on him, not to mention if he never made it, he's gonna be a failure in everyone's eyes. But more the physical toll that it could take."
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE
Favre and his wife, Deanna, have two daughters. Lauer's entire conversation with the three-time NFL MVP is scheduled to air Monday on "Today."
These remarks come just a few weeks after he opened up about a frightening memory lapse he experienced and shared his fears regarding the long-term health impact of his decorated NFL career.
"I think after 20 years, God only knows the toll that will be taken as time goes by," Favre told Andy Pollin and Jonny Saraceno on SportsTalk 570 in Washington D.C. in October.
Favre, who played 302 games over 20 NFL seasons, recalled how "they didn't keep a log like they do now" of concussions during his playing days and reflected on one specific instance of memory loss that he has experienced since retiring after the 2010 season.
"I don't remember my daughter playing soccer, youth soccer, one summer," Favre told Pollin and Saraceno. "I don't remember that. I got a pretty good memory, and I have a tendency like we all do to say, 'Where are my glasses?' and they're on your head. I have that [but] this was pretty shocking to me that I couldn't remember my daughter playing youth soccer, just one summer, I think. I remember her playing basketball, I remember her playing volleyball. So I kind of think maybe she only played a game or two. I think she played eight. So that's a little bit scary to me. For the first time in 44 years, that put a little fear in me."
Related
Before You Go
