Brett Favre urges Patrick Mahomes to be 'smart,' not rush back from concussion
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is concerned about Patrick Mahomes’ health following the Kansas City QB’s recent concussion.
With the Chiefs gearing up to face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game Sunday, Favre told TMZ that he’s worried the 25-year-old quarterback will try to rush himself through the NFL’s concussion protocol so he can start. As a former quarterback in his early 50s, Favre knows how dangerous that could be.
Favre wants Mahomes to think about his long-term health
Favre told TMZ that he hasn’t been exactly where Mahomes is now — dealing with a head injury that could keep him out of a vital game — but he knows how it feels to be a young, talented quarterback. Favre thought he could overcome anything at that age, so he’s worried that Mahomes might not be honest with the doctors about how he feels.
“I can promise you because I’ve been there. He’s going to feel absolutely 100 percent ready to play. And just say he has a headache on Friday, but the previous three or four days, he’s fine. Is he going to tell them? I doubt it. He wants to play.”
Favre urged Mahomes to be “smart” about his concussion and think about his future, because traumatic brain injuries can have long-term effects.
"I played 321 straight games. It kind of goes against everything I stood for when I played. But you got to be smart. You've got to be smart."
Favre also recalled how little the NFL cared about concussions when he was a player. There was no protocol, and players would often be back on the field just hours after suffering a head injury. Knowing what he knows now about concussions, he’s worried about his own future. He doesn’t want Mahomes to have those same worries in 25 years.
"When you're in the moment, and you're young, you're bulletproof, man. But I'm 51 years old and I'm wondering what tomorrow will bring because of concussions more than anything. ... I urge him and all players to be extremely smart."
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