Green Bay Packers: Thoughts on Brett Favre's HOF Induction

As expected, former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre became the 74th first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

There was no doubt about it–Brett Favre was a Hall of Fame inductee from the start. From the moment his name was called in the 1991 draft it was as if Canton had grabbed a hold of Favre and wouldn’t let go.

We all knew it was going to happen but it didn’t make it any less sweet. His first year in the nomination for Hall of Fame induction. There was no way Favre was going to slip through the cracks.

On February 6th, Favre became the fifth player in Green Bay Packers history to become a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee; the 24th overall inductee in franchise history.

Favre played 20 seasons in the NFL and held almost every passing record in the NFL–the good and the bad. He had 30 fourth quarter comebacks, three time league MVP and many more accolades that speak for his incredible career.

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One of the best, if not the top, accolades of Favre’s career isn’t one that can be calculated in a percentage or a total. It was the amount of excitement Favre brought to the fans.

I grew up in the far reaches of Packer country in north-western Wisconsin. The pull to the Green Bay Packers was natural for me since they’re my home-state team. But I could have grown up anywhere else in the world and I still would have been drawn to the Packer atmosphere because of Favre.

I wasn’t the only fan Favre drew in. Favre brought in a whole new generation of fans to the NFL. He made fans fall in love with football again. His impact on the league’s fanbase can still be felt today.

Favre leaves behind more than just touchdowns or wins. What he brought to Green Bay was hope. It’s still there today. The Packers wouldn’t be what they are today without Favre. You can also thank Ron Wolf for that. The trade Wolf made for Favre shifted the franchise into two straight decades of success.

The nickname given to Favre best explains why he is such a beloved character in Green Bay as well as throughout the NFL. Dubbed “The Gunslinger”, the definition of which Favre fit perfectly. One minute Favre was making a miraculous throw that no other quarterback could make. And the next, he was throwing a ridiculous interception (that no other quarterback could do as well).

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The gambles that Favre took were the unique thing that would keep fans on the edge of their seats. It was the reason he was such an entertaining player. When he threw the touchdown you were happy because it wasn’t the interception and when he threw the interception you were pissed because it wasn’t the touchdown. The highs and lows of Favre’s play created an exciting roller-coaster career.

It is amazing to look back at Favre’s career and realize–nothing was for certain. Not a single action was set in stone. But when it came to the Hall of Fame induction, it was the exact opposite. It was set in stone. The years of gambling had finally solidified one thing for Favre. Enshrinement.

From every Cheesehead out there: Congratulations Brett. Enjoy every moment of it because everyone knows you’ve earned it.

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Green Bay Packers: Thoughts on Brett Favre’s Hall of Fame Induction

By Kyle Engman | Feb 7, 2016