by # 3 Movies Brett Favre Doesn’t Like to Watch
Brett Favre is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. Over his illustrious 20-year career, which was spent primarily with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, Favre amassed countless individual records and led his teams to great success. However, with such an accomplished career also comes attention from Hollywood. Several movies have been made that either feature or are inspired by Favre and his legendary career. While fans and filmmakers may enjoy watching these cinematic depictions of Favre’s life and career, the man himself isn’t always so keen. Here are 3 movies Brett Favre has publicly expressed disliking:
## 1. “Monday Night Miracle” (2004)
This ESPN documentary chronicles one of the most famous plays in NFL history – Brett Favre’s improbable game-winning touchdown pass to Santana Moss in a Monday Night Football game against the Miami Dolphins in 2000. With just seconds left on the clock and the New York Jets trailing by 4 points, Favre dropped back and heaved a prayer downfield that Moss somehow hauled in for the score. The play delivered one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen on Monday Night Football and cemented Favre’s reputation as a gunslinger willing to take big risks to win games.
Naturally, as the central figure in this iconic play, Favre features prominently throughout the “Monday Night Miracle” documentary. However, he has expressed frustration with how often the play is revisited and analyzed. While fans still marvel at Favre’s gutsy throw years later, for him it’s just another moment in a long career filled with memorable performances. He feels the constant replays and hype surrounding that one play overshadow his other impressive accomplishments, such as being a 9-time Pro Bowler, 5-time NFL MVP, and Super Bowl champion.
Favre also believes the documentary focuses too heavily on just that one game-winning drive and not enough on the full context of his career up to that point. By 2000, Favre was already a 3-time MVP with a Super Bowl ring and over 25,000 career passing yards. Yet casual fans who only know him from the “Monday Night Miracle” might get the impression that play was what defined his entire career. For these reasons, Favre has said watching the documentary brings back memories he’d rather leave in the past.
## 2. “The Replacements” (2000)
This comedy film starring Keanu Reeves was released during the 1987 NFL players’ strike, when team owners used replacement players to fill in for striking union members. In the movie, Reeves plays a washed-up quarterback who gets signed by the Washington Sentinels to lead their replacement team. As the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers at the time of the real 1987 strike, Favre has criticized “The Replacements” for taking too many creative liberties with its portrayal of the events.
Specifically, Favre felt the film unfairly vilified replacement players like himself, who were just trying to work during a difficult situation. In reality, most replacement players were ordinary guys simply chasing their NFL dreams. But in “The Replacements,” Reeves’ character Shane Falco and his replacement teammates are depicted more as bumbling underdogs than legitimate football players.
Favre also disagreed with some of the fictional storylines invented for the movie. He said aspects like the Sentinels replacement team somehow making a competitive playoff run bore little resemblance to how the actual 1987 season played out with replacement players. Overall, Favre felt “The Replacements” took excessive creative license with real events still fresh in his memory as a key figure during the strike. Its skewed portrayal left a bad taste that still makes Favre reluctant to rewatch the film today.
## 3. “Concussion” (2015)
This hard-hitting drama starred Will Smith and was inspired by the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the neuropathologist who first discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former NFL players. CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma like concussions and subconcussive hits, which has been directly linked to mental health issues like depression and dementia in many former football players. As the dangers of head injuries in the sport were just starting to be fully recognized during Favre’s playing career in the 1990s-2000s, “Concussion” shines a light on a serious issue he has been vocal about.
While Favre hasn’t outright criticized “Concussion,” its subject matter focusing on CTE and the NFL’s attempts to cover up health risks is surely difficult for him to watch as a former player now dealing with post-career injuries. In retirement, Favre has openly discussed struggling with memory loss, headaches and mobility issues resulting from the physical toll of his career. He understands all too well the long-term effects football can have on the brain. With many experts now believing it’s not a matter of if but when former players will develop CTE, Favre must grapple with that sobering reality as well.
For these reasons, revisiting “Concussion” and being reminded of the game’s health consequences Favre continues to face is understandably not high on his list of enjoyable viewing experiences. Though the film raises important awareness, its portrayal of football’s potential long-term damage hits close to home for someone giving his all on the field without fully knowing the risks at the time.
## Bonus: “Draft Day” (2014)
While Favre isn’t directly featured, this football drama following a general manager on NFL Draft day also reportedly doesn’t sit too well with the legendary quarterback. “Draft Day” focuses on the Cleveland Browns and paints their front office as dysfunctional, with GM Sonny Weaver Jr. in over his head on the biggest day of his career. As a former longtime Packer, Favre naturally developed rivalries with other NFL franchises over the years – including the Browns.
Some speculate Favre’s dislike for “Draft Day” stems in part from its unflattering depiction of Cleveland. After all, Favre spent his prime seasons dueling the Browns on the field, not exactly fostering warm feelings towards the organization. The movie’s comedic portrayal of the Browns as inept bumblers likely didn’t amuse Favre much either. He’s always been a serious competitor who preferred to beat opponents with grit and skill rather than laugh at their expense.
So while “Draft Day” may be light entertainment for fans, its focus on Favre’s former AFC Central foes in the Browns probably doesn’t make for a preferred cinematic experience according to the legend himself. His disinterest in the film provides another example of how Favre prefers to be remembered solely for his accomplishments on the gridiron rather than Hollywood’s adaptations of his sport.
In conclusion, Brett Favre cemented his legacy as one of the NFL’s all-time greats with a career defined by gutsy plays, prolific stats, and championship success. But along with the adoration of fans and fame comes unwanted attention from filmmakers seeking to dramatize Favre’s real-life exploits. While movies like “Monday Night Miracle,” “The Replacements,” and “Concussion” aimed to honor Favre through reenactment or examination of his era, the man himself often comes away with less than fond feelings having relived experiences he’d rather keep personal. For the legendary quarterback, his performances between the lines say more than any movie ever could.
