It’s official this time: Packers quarterback Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL.

Favre has not given a press conference yet, but has confirmed his decision to hang it up with his agent who spoke with ESPN and other sources. While it was widely thought that he would return in 2008 following a terrific year for the Packers (despite a playoff loss), this is not the case. One speculation is that the Packers didn’t try hard enough to acquire free agent wide out Randy Moss. Favre expressed his desire to the team for them to land Moss last off-season but the Packers never pulled the trigger. It was obvious Favre was becoming more and more comfortable with his young group of receivers, but it is certainly a possibility that the lack of an experienced big time seasoned receiver contributed to his retirement decision.

Speculation aside, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that #4 is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is idolized in Green Bay as nothing short of a savior, and has ridiculous numbers to back it up. Take a look at these statistics for his illustrious career:

- 17 years in the NFL, 16 with Green Bay (played 2 games his rookie year with Atlanta)

- 253 consecutive starts, 275 if you include the playoffs

- 5377 com. (NFL record)/ 8759 att. (NFL record) = which is a 61.4%

- 61,655 passing yards (NFL record)

- 442 touchdowns (NFL record), 288 interceptions (NFL record)
- 85.7 qb rating

- 160 wins (NFL record for a QB)

- Super Bowl champion

Brett Favre, like Lambeau Field, will forever be part of the fabric of the Green Bay Packers history and tradition. Just looking at his mind boggling career statistics, it’s evident that he will also forever be an prominent part of NFL history as a whole. He was a warrior, starting over 250 games in a row. Favre was often called ‘the gunslinger’; never afraid or timid to try any pass. This might be a reason he holds an infamous record for most interceptions ever thrown, but that record is easily overshadowed by the good he has done in his career.

Favre will likely go done in NFL history as the best quarterback who ever played the game, or one of the best for sure. He showed in 2008, at age 38, that he was still able to compete at a high level, like he did throughout his career. There is no doubt he will be inducted into Canton in his first year of eligibility. Favre has become a household name, and will continue to be so for years and years to come. Out of so many moments to remember, perhaps the one that shines the brightest is the game versus Oakland he played in the day after his father passed away. It was one of the best games of his life.

While his gunslinger mentality did cost him greatly at points towards the back end of his career, his name cannot be tarnished nor his legacy brought down. Brett Favre, after 17 years is retiring, and the football world should collectively tip their caps to this great player.