Brett Favre Files for Retirement: 4 Things to Do Off The Gridiron

Listening to Brett Favre's press conferences this year and watching him on the bench for three of his last four games, it seems that he is finally ready to accept the concept of life beyond the football field.

According to FOXSports.com, Favre filed his retirement papers. Of course, he also filed those same papers after his one season with the Jets, so I wouldn't let go of all possibility of him returning to action next season yet.

However, Favre's career has to end sometime. The way this past season has gone, retirement looks long overdue.

So what will a man who has started an NFL-record 297 games do with the rest of his life?

Here are four ideas to help ol' #4 fight off the irritating itch to give his career one more painful year.


Coaching

While contemplating retirement over the past two summers, Favre worked out with a local high school football team in Hattiesburg, Miss., to keep himself in playing shape and serve as an unofficial mentor.

I'm sure that football team would be more than willing to let him join his team as a quarterbacks coach.

Yes, I know that he was never the most fundamentally-sound quarterback. Throwing off his back foot, for instance, is not something he needs to teach kids whose arms are not as strong.

So, it's really simple: Favre should teach high schoolers to do the opposite of what he did on the football field. They'll listen.


Broadcasting

Back when America (outside of Chicago, of course) liked Brett Favre, part of the reason for his likability was because of his personality.

Whether it was doing a Keith Jackson impression for a tight end whose name happened to be the same as the former ABC college football broadcaster or getting into friendly confrontations with Warren Sapp, he entertained us with his outgoing charisma. He can do the same in a broadcast booth.

Yes, I know that Favre has never been comfortable with wearing a suit on national television.

Well, I have a different idea: radio. No one cares if radio broadcasters wear their Wranglers to work (even if they're open-fly jeans, as seen on SNL) because, obviously, no one sees him.


Time with Family

When a famous athlete retires, he often says that one of the things he looks forward to doing in retirement is spending time with his family.

While Brett Favre has been busy on the football field (or on his lawn in Mississippi), some events have occurred within his family. Last summer, his daughter had a baby, giving him a rarity in the NFL: a grandfather on the football field.

In recent weeks, his sister made the news by getting arrested in connection with a methamphetamine sting. And, of course, he may have to work on his marriage in the wake of the Jenn Sterger scandal.

In retirement, Favre may figure out that time spent with family is going to be more important than anything that happened in the 297 consecutive games in which he started.


Backyard Football

Of course, if those three ideas are not enough to keep Favre off the football field, he does have a huge backyard.

On that gridiron, Favre can play without being confined by Brad Childress or pads. He can put his Wranglers on and just fling that pigskin anywhere and anyhow he wishes.