The greatest NFL Quarterback statistically has called it a career, after 17 years. He ranks in my Top 3 all time: along with Warren Moon & Donovan McNabb 
Brett Favre to Retire After 17 Years, Many NFL Passing RecordsBy Aaron Kuriloff
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Brett Favre, statistically the most accomplished quarterback in National Football League history, will retire from the Green Bay Packers weeks after coming up one victory short of making the Super Bowl.
Favre, 38, said yesterday he would finish his career after 17 NFL seasons, 16 of them with Green Bay, where he won an unprecedented three NFL most-valuable player awards and a league championship after the 1996 season.
Favre was the most popular NFL player in a 2007 Harris Poll and the fourth-most popular athlete in the U.S., behind golfer Tiger Woods, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and former basketball all-star Michael Jordan.
``He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms -- not many players are able to do that,'' Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said yesterday in a televised news conference.
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said he spoke with Favre two nights ago and the quarterback said he felt mentally tired by the rigors of NFL life. Favre's only comment was a voice mail to ESPN, saying he was worn down.
Favre retires having completed 5,377 passes for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions, all NFL records. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and holds the mark for wins by a starting quarterback, with 160. He also started 253 straight regular-season games, a record for NFL quarterbacks.
Trade to Packers
The native of Kiln, Mississippi, was selected in the second round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons and traded to Green Bay after the season for a first-round draft choice. He replaced injured starter Don Majkowski in the first quarter of the third game and led the Packers to a 9-7 season, the team's second-best in 20 years.
Favre started every Green Bay game through 2007, leading the team to the Super Bowl after the 1996 and 1997 seasons. He won the NFL most-valuable player award each year from 1995-97.
Success made Favre a national icon. He ranks second among active football players on Marketing Evaluation Inc.'s Q Scores, which measure U.S. consumer awareness of celebrities and their marketability, behind Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Favre's longevity contributed to his popularity, said David Carter, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. He said Favre also comes across on television as likeable and comfortable.
``He's a guy that a lot of folks could relate to -- scrappy,'' said Carter. ``He just seems very authentic. I think when you marry that with his consistency on the field, it's resulted in not just football fans, but consumers, having a high regard for him.''
Favre appeared as himself in 1998's highest-grossing comedy film, ``There's Something about Mary.'' In 2004, Men's Journal magazine called him the ``Toughest Guy in America.''
Division Title
Favre discussed retiring after each of the past several seasons. In 2007, he passed for 4,155 yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as the Packers won a division title after going 8-8 the previous year.
Green Bay lost the NFC championship to the New York Giants, 23-20 in overtime on Jan. 20, after Favre threw an interception that set up the winning field goal.
On the way to the division title, Favre broke records for passing yards and touchdowns held by former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. He claimed the NFL record for career wins with 149 in the season's second week, breaking the mark held by John Elway.
His final victory included a play that characterized Favre's fearless, and sometimes reckless, style. Against Seattle in the divisional playoff round, Favre and the Packers faced third down and eight on the Seahawks' 14-yard line. As Favre stepped back to pass, Seahawks defensive end Brandon Mebane raced through the middle, grabbed Favre's jersey and tried to swing him to the ground.
Spin, Flip
Favre spun away and ran toward the right sideline. Just before falling face-first into the snow, he flipped the ball underhanded to Donald Lee, who ran for a first down and set up a touchdown run soon after. Favre after the game called the play ``a backbreaker'' that had about a 10 percent chance of success.
``His style of play was as unique as it was effective,'' Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. ``You knew he was having fun when he played, and that made him fun to watch.''
McCarthy said he spoke yesterday with Favre's backup, Aaron Rodgers, who seemed ``surprised'' at the announcement. Rodgers has played in seven NFL games, with one touchdown pass, since the Packers took him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Thompson said Favre seemed at peace with his decision and he doesn't expect the quarterback will change his mind. Thompson said he would discuss the team's future at another time.
``I know fans are absolutely devastated,'' he said. ``The Packers will move forward, but certainly we've all been blessed to see this man play the game the way he played it.''
Thompson said Favre's popularity came from his enthusiasm.
``I think he's the little boy in all of us,'' Thompson said. ``He plays the game like you would in the backyard.''
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