Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre Retires

Favre calls it quits after a long run of record breaking accomplishments, leaving his fans and teammates stunned over his decision to retire.nnAfter considering retirement for years, Brett Favre finally calls it quits. The Green Bay Packers quarterback announced his retirement after 17 eventful seasons. Favre told ESPN that he's just too tired mentally. This came as a surprise considering his accomplishments including setting several football records. Favre announced his decision Monday night.nnTed Thompson, the General Manager for the Green Bay Packers, thanked Favre for his 16 committed years with the team and commented on his legendary accomplishments. It's not yet known when Favre will be addressing the media about his retirement. nnFavre led the Packers to the NFC championship game in January but his interception in overtime set up the Giant's winning field goal. Favre and his wife discussed the possibility of him coming back but only if he was capable of winning a Super Bowl. He feels that going to the Super Bowl and losing would be worse than anything. It's unclear at this point if Favre's decision is final. Troy Aikman told Fox that he wouldn't be surprised if Favre changes his mind by the end of the season.nnFavre's retirement came as a surprise to many people, including former Green Bay Packers General Manager, Ron Wolf. Some say that even his teammates couldn't believe the news. Favre's passion and enthusiasm of the game will most definitely be missed by many.nnLast season, Favre broke Dan Marino's records for most touchdown passes and most yards passing and John Elway's record for most career victories by a starting quarterback. Favre retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions. In his final season, Favre continued his quarterback-record streak of consecutive regular-season starts to 253 games . Including the playoffs, his streak stands at 275.nnPro Football Hall of Fame Coach, Mark Levy was noted commenting on Favre's intuition, toughness, resilience. In the past few years, Favre's indecision about his football career became a tradition in Wisconsin, with Cheeseheads hanging on his every word. Unlike in 2006 when he got all choked up during a television interview when he walked off the field in Chicago, only to return once again. Almost everyone assumed he would be back the following season.nnIt was a complete turn around from 2005 during his last season with former head coach Mike Sherman. Favre threw a career worst 29 interceptions as the Packers went 4-12. Surrounded by group of wide receivers who proved to be hard to tackle after the catch, Favre had a completion percentage of 66.5. He threw for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.nnBefore the Packers' divisional playoff game against Seattle, Favre told the press that he wasn't going into the game as if it was his last and stated that he was more optimistic than in ever before about returning. However, Favre ended up finishing the season on a bad note in a 23-20 overtime loss to the Giants in the NFC championship game. After that, Favre was unsure about his future. McCarthy suggested that he take a step back from the season before making a final decision. Now he's decided to call it quits. Thompson feels that the team owes a lot to Brett Favre and regards him as one of the most enduring figures in NFL history.nn