Brett Favre owns a number of NFL records, including 464 career touchdown passes. (Associated Press) New York Jets quarterback and future Hall of Famer Brett Favre insisted on Wednesday that his retirement will stick.
Favre's decision comes one year after he retired from the Green Bay Packers before changing his mind and forcing the team to deal him to New York.
Favre, 39, led the Jets to an 8-3 record this past season but struggled down the stretch. The Jets finished at 9-7 and missed the playoffs on the final week after losing at home to the Miami Dolphins.
"It's been a wonderful career, I couldn't ask for anything more," Favre said during a media conference call on Wednesday evening. "It was worth a shot for me to go to New York. I wish I could've played better down the stretch. I didn't.
"It's time to leave."
Favre holds a number of NFL records, including career touchdown passes (464), passing yards (65,127), completions (5,720), and interceptions (310).
The three-time league MVP also guided the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 1997.
"We had an all-encompassing conversation," Jets owner Woody Johnson said earlier in the day. "He told me at that point that he had made his decision to retire and thanked everybody and talked about what a great experience he had with the New York Jets."
In an emotional news conference last March, Favre quit the Packers but decided he wanted to come back before training camp began.
Retiring for good?
His return forced a bitter split with Green Bay, which had moved on with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Favre was then traded to the Jets in August and earned a Pro Bowl selection despite a disappointing season that cost head coach Eric Mangini his job.
"With Brett, there was always the possibility that he wouldn't play the second year," Johnson said. "We were hoping to get one good year out of Brett Favre.
"We picked him based on, in our opinion, his giving us the best chance to win last season. We were disappointed not to have made the Super Bowl, but we did some very good things with Brett."
Although the spirited Favre has been known to waver, New York general manager Mike Tannenbaum doesn't expect him back next season.
"He did not ask to be released," said Tannenbaum "Everything he said was, he is done playing football.
"We have our plan according to that, and we're going to move forward."
Favre, who suffered a torn right biceps tendon, said the circumstances were different than last year, partially due to the injury.
"Physically, if I felt better, we may not be having this conversation, but I think that's more than anything the writing on the wall," he said.
The Packers released a statement congratulating Favre on his career and wishing him well.
"Brett always will hold a special place in Green Bay Packers history, and we remain committed to retiring his number at an appropriate time in the future," the statement read.
With files from the Associated Press
