The morning of Tuesday March 4^th was unlike many other mornings in the world of sports. Brett Favre announced his retirement from the National Football League. He decided to leave the youngest team in the NFL, despite the team making it to the conference championship game and looking as though it had high hopes to return for a successful season once again. Favre said that he was “stressed and tired of preparing for every new week,” in an interview with ESPN Analyst Chris Mortenson. Many people were surprised that a man coming off one of his greatest seasons ever would retire when it looked like he would have such a successful year in 2008. Nevertheless, this man’s effect on the game of football was extraordinary and unmatched by any other NFL quarterback. When asked, other quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), Tom Brady (New England Patriots), and Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) have said that Favre was one of their greatest heroes and influences. This man is idolized maybe even more than Michael Jordan (especially in Wisconsin). He has become the face of the Green Bay Packers, and some might say the face of the entire NFL.

The reaction by Shorewood students wasn’t very surprising: they were sad, and they had good reason to be. Favre holds almost every record possible: Touchdown Passes (442), Completions (5,377), Passing Yards (61,655), and even Interceptions. Junior Joe Moran stated, “Brett Favre is the best quarterback who has ever played the game.” Joe brings up a very interesting point; it is hard to argue against Brett Favre, he has most of the records, three consecutive MVP awards, most regular season and playoff wins by a quarterback, and a Super Bowl ring.

Other students weren’t as sad, but were just happy of what Favre had given the Packer fans while he was under center for the Packers. Junior Eston Bennett said, “Brett Favre’s career was like the Roman Empire, it had its ups and downs and for the most part it was pretty dominant, but at some point it had to end.”

Now the question arises, will Favre regret his decision and return back to the game? Junior Tim Lancina said, “I just don’t see that happening, he is too loyal to the Packers. Plus if I saw Favre in an opposing teams uniform I might cry.”

Other Packer fans agree that to see Favre in another uniform might be heartbreaking. Junior Mike Dupar stated, “Brett Favre is like the father I never had; I don’t know if I could see him playing for another team.”

It is now time for Packer fans to move on; the days of Brett Favre are over in Green Bay. The man that led the Packers to their first Super Bowl victory since the days of Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr is gone. He will be missed, yet never forgotten. His run-and-gun style of play has made a permanent impact on the game. His love for the game, the same as if he was still a 12-year-old boy playing in his backyard, made the game seem like less of a business but more of an American pastime. Say goodbye to the gunslinger, the comeback kid, and the man that took off his helmet and ran off the field with the biggest smile on his face. Say hello to the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay.