HE HASN’T GONE away you know?

One of the most successful and controversial players in NFL history could be set to return, according to an NFL insider.

Brett Favre has numerous accolades, as well as the occasional misdemeanour, to his name, and there is talk that the 41-year-old quarter-back could make a surprise return to NFL action.

However, the fact that the cost of acquiring Favre is likely to be quite high may prove a deterrent for teams interested in availing of his services.

But irrespective of the price for such a move, any team willing to invest in Favre will be welcoming one of the greatest players in NFL history, as the timeline below attests.

Brett Favre – a career in

• 1987: Favre plays his first college game for the Golden Eagles, coming on in the second half of the third game of the year against Tulane and producing two touchdown passes to lead his team to victory. He went on to start 10 games in his freshman year.
• 1989: Played a prominent role in the Golden Eagles’ shock win over Florida State, capping off his performance by registering the winning touchdown with 23 seconds left of play.
• 1990: He  survives a car accident and is miraculously able to keep playing football, recovering after doctors are forced to remove his small intestine following the accident. He returned to action six weeks after the incident, leading his side to a victory over Alabama, with Alabama’s coach describing Favre as “larger than life”.
• 1991: The player is drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, reportedly signing a contract worth $1.4 million with a $350,000 signing-on bonus. However, his time there was short-lived. He only attempted four passes during the season and none of them were completed, causing the Falcons to swiftly trade him to Green Bay Packers – the team he would spend the next 15 years at – after one season.
• 1992: Favre began his career with Green Bay badly. The turning point came after he replaced first-choice quarter-back Don Majkowski and threw the game-winning touchdown, endearing him to the fans who had previously called for his removal from the field.
• 1993-1994: He helps the Packers reach the playoffs on consecutive occasions for the first time since the 1960s.
• 1995-1997: Favre becomes the only player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three seasons in a row, helping the Packers win the Super Bowl in 1997 for the first time since 1967. This period was also mired in controversy for the player, as he was forced to spend time in a drug rehab clinic after his addiction to vicodin became public.

Favre warming up for the Minnesota Vikings – Tony Avelar/AP/Press Association Images

• 1998-2002: The Packers form spiralled as they failed to match the success of earlier seasons. Favre was also accused of deliberately allowing himself to be sacked by New York Giants player Michael Strahan, in order to enable the player to gain the NFL’s single-season sack record.
• 2003-2006: Favre endured personal tragedies, with both his father and brother-in-law dying in a short space of time, while his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. His family’s home was also destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Favre’s form also deteriorated: in 2005, his passer rating was 70.9 – the worst rating of his career. Favre then announced his first of many retirements, saying the 2006 season would be his last, before later experiencing a change of heart.
• 2007: Now a veteran, Favre had another successful season, that includde a historic 90-yard touchdown pass, in addition to being selected on the 2008 Pro Bowl as the starting quarterback for the NFC before being forced to pull out due to injury. However, despite this success, he again expressed doubts about whether he would continue playing.
• 2008: Favre announces his retirement, weeping as he made the announcement. In July, he then asked for the Packers to release him so he could play for another team, a request which was rejected. After a protracted argument, Favre eventually joined New York Jets in August of that year. He then had a mixed first season with the Jets, throwing an equal number of touchdown passses and interceptions (22).

• 2009: The player again decides to retire following a shoulder injury. However, in August of that year, Favre went back on his previous decision, signing for the Minnesota Vikings, having been released from his contract with the Jets. He was successful initially with the side, gaining the distinction of playing is 282nd consecutive regular-season game, a record he shared with Jim Marshall, before subsequently breaking it. However, after a poor run of form, he was benched by Minnesota coach Brad Childress.
• 2010: A serious ankle injury suffered by Favre caused him to decide that 2010 would be his last season. A concussion suffered in December of that year exacerbated his poor fitness.
• 2011: Favre officially files his retirement papers, bringing an end (or so it seemed at the time) to an illustrious career.