Favre's Fall: From NFL Legend to Central Figure in State’s Biggest Welfare Scandal

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The upcoming documentary set to premiere this week will delve into the successes and struggles of Brett Favre.

With it comes new details about the man some Mississippians once celebrated and now denounce because of taxpayer dollars meant for the poorest residents that went to him and his causes instead.

The new Netflix documentary, Untold: The Fall of Favre, begins with the NFL legend’s rise to prominence in professional sports.

“Everybody wishes they could be a NFL quarterback. You get all the notoriety, you get paid all the money,” said former Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick, who was interviewed for the film.

The hour-long documentary took nine months to put together, said executive producer A.J. Perez.

“The hard part really for us was finding people close to Brett to talk to us because, you know, he didn’t want anybody to participate,” Perez said.

That’s likely because the film also dives into the more controversial parts of his life, including allegations of stalking, sexting and the welfare scandal.

Nearly ten minutes of the documentary recaps Favre’s alleged involvement in the TANF scandal.

Messages obtained by Mississippi Today indicate that Favre supported securing funds from the governor for the development of a new volleyball facility at Southern Miss.

Part of the funds was directed towards Prevacus, a firm developing a concussions treatment medication that hasn’t reached the market yet.

Constructing an arena at his college campus can be seen as a generous act," Perez stated. "It’s simply about where those funds came from, how they reached him through Nancy New and Davis along with the rest.

Perez has been reporting on Favre’s role in the controversy for several years as a sports journalist at Front Office Sports.

In 2023, as you recall, there was still a possibility that Favre might have encountered criminal charges and thus been held accountable under the law," Perez stated. "He hadn't yet become merely a defendant in the lawsuit." Perez added, "If he had indeed been charged, we likely would have expanded that part significantly.

The film’s also something of a time capsule for the once-revered sports icon from the Kiln.

The video clips ranging from his early years all the way through his USM era will evoke fond recollections for many viewers," Perez stated. "I believe this will stir up feelings of nostalgia. People have their favorites, so it should bring about cherished moments for numerous individuals watching the documentary since it’s essential to share both the positive and negative aspects, which we accomplished.

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