Favre claims ‘thousands’ of concussions

Brett Favre says he might have had “thousands” of concussions during his Hall of Fame career.

The three-time NFL MVP who played from 1992-2010 and was known for his aggressive approach to football said Thursday on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” that he is experiencing short-term memory issues.

Favre, 48, has become an advocate for concussion research and said he had three or four known concussions during his lengthy career, spanning 302 regular-season games and 24 in the postseason.

“But as we’re learning about concussions,” he told Kelly, “there’s a term we use in foot- ball and maybe other sports, that I got ‘dinged.’ When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion.

“If that’s a concussion, then I’ve had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening.”

Favre added that he worries about developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as he ages.

“My football career has meant a great deal to me and has provided a lot of things, a lot of joy not only for me, but for my family,” Favre said. “Now, my family doesn’t have to face the physical problems that could potentially arise, or the mental problems that could, but they are directly associated with me in that regard. It’s kind of a blessing and a curse.

“I grew up playing football. My dad was the coach, he was tough on me, he was a hard-nosed, just in-your-facetype of guy, and he didn’t know what concussions were about. We knew basically what a concussion was, but the thought process in those days was you would never come out of a game or practice because you had a little head ding. You would be considered, for lack of a better term, a sissy.”