For as long as I can remember, Brett Favre has always been there. Sixteen years. If there was ever one thing I could count on, every fall Sunday he would be there, leading his Packers onto the field, playing football as it was meant to be played.

Through good times and bad, Favre has truly exemplified the spirit of the game. Spirit. This is the true legacy of Favre. Forget all the numbers, the 3 consecutive MVP awards, the Super Bowl title - what really mattered was how he played the game. A true competitor, he showed up every week not for the money, but because he just loved the game. Never did he mail it in because he had just locked up a fat contract - never did you see him playing harder because it was contract year. He played hard - EVERY WEEK - just because he loved the game.

Growing up, I always followed the Packers. Raised in Green Bay, I grew up a mile and a half away from Lambeau Field - to not follow the team would have been absolutely impossible. But I was not always a true fan. Sure, I knew about the team, I could tell you who had won and who had lost from week to week - but to be honest, it really didn’t mean that much to me. The moment that I transitioned from being a casual fan to bleeding green and gold is a memory that lives vividly in my mind - it will forever be one of my fondest sports memories.

It was 1996, and for the first time since 1967, the Packers were returning to the Super Bowl. On one of their first offensive plays, Favre dropped back and hit Andre Rison on a post route for a touchdown. What happened next was truly a life-changing experience for me. In a moment of pure jubilation, Favre ripped off his helmet and charged off the field, with a huge grin on his face. It sent chills down my spine. At that moment nothing else mattered - not the fame, not the money - Favre was a kid living out his dream. It was apparent… he just loved football.

From that moment on, I was hooked. I knew that as long as Brett Favre was around, I would always be a Packer fan. He played for the love of the game, and thats why I loved to watch.

I can only hope that those who are to follow aim not to match his numbers, but rather his spirit. Forget about the wins, the losses, touchdowns, and interceptions. Play for the love of the game, and you will truly honor his legacy.