GREEN BAY (WITI) -- The announcement that Brett Favre will be going into the Packers Hall of Fame and having his number retired is big news to many Green Bay Packers fans. It's also meaningful to a couple of guys with whom he spent a lot of time in the organization.
When Brett Favre arrived in a trade in 1992, he hoped to find a place with the Packers. On Monday, August 4th, 2014, he finally found a place back in the Packers good graces, with the announcement of his Hall of Fame selection and jersey retirement.
"About three weeks ago, he and I had a long conversation on his phone and everything was so positive and he wants to get it settled. He wants to get back into the family. And he said to me -- he said 'Bob, I made mistakes. We probably, both sides made mistakes, but that's where I want to be, and that's a part of my career I loved,'" retired Packers President Bob Harlan said.
Prior to an acrimonious departure, Favre spent 16 years of his career with the green and gold -- creating memories with his play and his personality.
Harlan was the team's president when he arrived, and is still associated with the team.
Steve Mariucci was Favre's position coach from 1992 through 1995.
"You know, everybody's got a different, you've got a different personality and everybody's different, okay? And his personality is unique. He's a tough guy, but he's a funny guy. I mean, he is the funniest guy in the room, wherever you are. He's witty. That doesn't usually go hand-in-hand with toughness. This is a good place for him too, because if he gets drafted or traded to New York, I'm talking about early in his career, early or late -- or L.A. or some big city -- he's not a city guy at all. His hometown is smaller than this one (Green Bay). I think he loved it here. He was comfortable here. I always lived right across from him so I could keep my eye on him," Mariucci said.
After leaving Green Bay, Mariucci ended up opposite Favre a few times.
"When I was with San Francisco, I only beat him once and that was when T.O. caught the pass right at the end. I coached against him twice at Detroit. We got him twice and I beat him twice. I feel really proud of that. I didn't beat anybody twice," Mariucci said.
The passing numbers for Favre, including interceptions, boggle the mind -- but one that epitomizes his era in Green Bay is the 253 consecutive games he started at quarterback for the team.
"If Brett Favre wasn't a part of our history and back in this Packers family and in this Hall of Fame and with his number retired, it would have been a sin," Harlan said.
It seems Favre certainly rubbed off on the guys he worked for and with in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Favre's big ceremonial night will be July 18th, 2015. His former cohorts intend to be on hand for the event.