Bonita and Irvin Favre gave birth to Brett Lorenzo Favre in Gulfport, Mississippi on October 10, 1969. Both of his parents were high school teachers. His dad was also a coach. The family moved to Kiln, Mississippi after Brett was born and that is where they raised their little boy with older brother Scott and two younger siblings, Jeff and Brandi.
When Brett was only 4 years hold, he was hit in the head with a baseball bat. Recalling the incident, Brett claims, “Leon Farmer was in the on-deck circle – nailed me. I had a big egg on my head.” Brett’s father said he didn’t even cry and the nurse was more upset about the incident than Brett was. He was very resilient even as a small boy.
Many people don’t know it, but Brett also met his wife when he was just 5 years old. On Greta Van Sustern, Brett recalls, “I tell people all the time-we actually knew each other back in kindergarten. And we used to play football together. She was a tomboy.” When Greta asked if she was any good at football, he teased saying “She is marginal at catching a football” but admitted she was great at softball and basketball.
High School Days (1983 to 1987)
Brett played high school football at Hancock North Central High where he wore the number 10 on his jersey. Brett’s father, Irvin “Irv” Favre was his coach. Irv’s offense was run in such a way that Brett did not get to display his full abilities but he played quarterback and strong safety, also serving as a punter and a place kicker. Most people don’t know that Brett also played baseball, leading his team in batting all five seasons and earning 5 letters. He was a real athlete with his father’s talents. His father pitched for Southern Mississippi baseball varsity.
Brett and his Father were constantly talking about football and studying the game. Brett had two favorite players he always talked about, Saints’ Archie Manning, and the Cowboys Roger Staubach. Brett always dreamed of playing for the Dallas Cowboys, which was an amazing team in the late 70’s. Staubach was the Heisman Trophy winner as a Navy junior in 1963. He eventually led Dallas to 2 Super Bowl titles (1972,78), and was Super Bowl MVP in 1972.” But Brett still had time for his high school sweetheart, Deanna Tynes who he started dating in 1983.
Deanna recalls a memory of Brett in his early years in an interview when she was asked what she loves about him she replied, “I got to watch him in high school in different situations, and his mother was a special education teacher, and I saw him with those kids, and he is very compassionate and incredible with those kids. They were like his best friends. There was one in particular too that was the bat-boy for a team.” His name was Ronnie and “for Ronnie to travel, someone had to be his roommate.” She said “Brett always volunteered to be his roommate” and she loved him because “he has always been compassionate.”
Deanna Tynes, born on December 28, 1968, was the daughter of a single mother, Ann. Her step-father, Kerry Tynes, adopted her once he married Deanna’s mother. Deanna was raised with 2 siblings, her sister, Christie, and a brother, Casey. Deanna and Brett went to school together from an early age but did not start dating until high school when Deanna was a sophomore. Brett was a freshman. She was one year older than Brett and would graduate in 1986, a year before him.
Brett played in the Mississippi high school All-star game following his senior season at Hancock North Central High. Brett’s dad played a huge role in getting recruiters to his games to watch him play but they weren’t knocking down his door to recruit him for college.
College Education, Career, and Personal Milestones (1987 to 19990)
Brett didn’t have much choice about college. Southern Mississippi was the only college to offer him a scholarship. Brett was not recruited as a quarterback. Southern Mississippi recruited him as a defensive back. He chose to major in education, once again, following in his parents’ footsteps. Deanna, who had graduated a year before him, attended a community college in Poplarville on a basketball scholarship while Brett finished his last year in high school. Once Brett was selected for Southern Mississippi, she transferred their to finish her degree alongside Brett.
When Brett went to the first summer football camp, the coaching staff saw the potential for Brett at quarterback. He started out in the 7th spot and moved up to backup. By the third game of Brett’s freshman year, Brett was the starting quarterback for the Golden Eagles. “He entered the second half of the Golden Eagles’ game against Tulane and led Southern Miss to a 31-24 comeback victory. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.”
While Brett was in College his long-term girlfriend Deanna Tynes became pregnant with their first child. At the age of 20, Deanna gave birth to Favre’s daughter, Brittany Nicole, on February 6, 1989. Though they did not marry, Deanna and Brett raised their daughter together. With Deanna’s strong-will, she put herself through college while working various jobs. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in December 1994 with a degree in exercise science, juggling jobs, school, and parenting.
Brett almost missed his senior year of college after he was in a serious car accident. He was driving down a back road when the sun blinded him and he lost control of his car. He crashed into a tree. His older brother Scott was following him and used a set of golf clubs to break the glass and help his brother.” His internal injuries required him to have surgery, removing 30 inches of his small intestine. He lost 40lbs and it didn’t look likely that he would finish his senior year. “On September 8th, one month after having surgery, Brett pulled off one of the greatest victories in Southern Mississippi history. The Golden Eagles beat Alabama 27-24 on a comeback win from the comeback kid!” Crimson Tide coach said, “You can call it a miracle or a legend or whatever you want to. I just know that on that day, Brett Favre was larger than life.”
Despite his courage, Brett lost his last game at Southern Mississippi to North Carolina State. The final score was 31 to 27 in the All-American Bowl game. But Brett still showed his greatness, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns. “He finished his Southern Miss career as the school leader in passing yards (8,193), pass attempts (1,234), completions (656), passing percentage (53.0) and touchdowns (55).”
Brett Favre threw for 7,695 yards and 52 touch downs for Southern Miss from 1987 to 1990. Brett graduated in 1991 as a very accomplished athlete because of his outstanding performance at the quarterback position for the Golden Eagles at Southern Mississippi but he wouldn’t be a first round pick in the NFL draft. After graduating in 1991, Brett was drafted number 33 by the Atlanta, Falcons. His dream of playing for the Cowboys wasn’t realized, but his NFL career began nonetheless. Atlanta traded him to the Green Bay Packers and that was when his NFL Career took off. Read more about his NFL career at NFL.com or on my content page by clicking on my name above.
