 2008 : In early March , Favre announces that he is retiring from the Green Bay Packers . At a news conference he said " I know I can play , but I don 't think I want to . It 's been a great career for me , but it 's over . As they say , all good things must come to an end . I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me . " Later in the month Favre has second thoughts and wants to return . According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Favre backed out of a meeting with Packers management two days before re @-@ entry talks were to begin . In April , Sam Farmer from the Los Angeles Times reported that Favre 's agent Bus Cook was making inquiries to other teams about Favre . Favre responded by saying " I have no idea where that came from , but it certainly didn 't come from me . I 'm happy about my decision and I haven 't once said ' I wonder if I made the wrong decision . ' I know it 's the right one . It 's kind of funny . Even when I 'm retired , they won 't let me stay retired . " Also in April , the Packers placed Favre on the Reserve @-@ Retired list and planned to have Favre 's number retired during the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings . In June , Favre said he told head coach Mike McCarthy he wanted to come back to the team . He said " When he picked up the phone again after he dropped it , he said , ' Oh , God , Brett . You 're putting us in a tight spot . He said , ' Brett , playing here is not an option . ' Those were his exact , exact words . " In July , Favre sent a letter requesting his release from the Packers . A couple months earlier Favre contacted Mike McCarthy about coming out of retirement and was " rebuffed " according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report . Then a report came in from ESPN that said that Favre had wanted to come out of retirement but the Packers were reluctant to take him back . The Packers refused to give Favre an unconditional release . A few days later , Favre had an interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News where he accused general manager Ted Thompson of forcing him to make a decision on his return to the team too quickly . Two days after the interview , the Packers filed tampering charges with the NFL front office charging that the Minnesota Vikings had inappropriate contact with Favre . The Packers then offered Favre a retirement package of $ 25 million marketing agreement to remain retired . This offer was rejected and Favre was subsequently traded to the New York Jets . 
