Netflix is spotlighting Brett Favre’s rise and fall in a brand new documentary, “Untold: The Fall of Favre,” tracing the Corridor of Fame quarterback’s NFL success and the scandals that adopted.
The documentary explores Favre’s celebrated NFL profession, but additionally delves into the sexting allegations that surfaced throughout his time with the New York Jets and his alleged involvement in a $94 million Mississippi welfare fraud scheme.
Director Rebecca Gitlitz wished to look at whether or not individuals in positions of energy consider they’re above the regulation after seeing how historical past repeated itself with Favre. The documentary options interviews with Ron Wolf, the Packers GM who traded for Favre in 1992, and Peter King, a retired Sports activities Illustrated author who was near Favre throughout his profession. Notably absent from the movie is Favre himself, who declined to take part, telling the director he may make his documentary if he wished to, as The Guardian factors out. The movie additionally consists of an look by Michael Vick, highlighting the distinction in how America reacted to their respective scandals.
USA Today notes that the documentary, which premiered Tuesday on Netflix, serves its objective by way of good storytelling from the speaking heads who appeared within the movie, largely sportswriters who coated Favre throughout his 20 NFL seasons. Whereas the documentary is simply an hour lengthy, which is shocking given the complexity of the topic, it makes an attempt to inform a balanced story. Based on USA Immediately, the primary 12 minutes give attention to Favre’s profession earlier than introducing Jenn Sterger, who claims Favre despatched her unsolicited express footage once they each labored for the New York Jets. “Brett Favre finally destroyed my life,” Sterger says within the movie, revealing that she has by no means truly met Favre, who was fined $50,000 by the NFL for not cooperating with their investigation.
The documentary additionally covers the Mississippi welfare scandal, the place Favre sought to construct a brand new enviornment at Southern Mississippi, the place his daughter performed volleyball. As USA Immediately highlights, one of the vital attention-grabbing components of the movie reveals govt producer A.J. Perez listening to audio recordings after being threatened by Favre’s representatives for reporting on the scandal. Favre used the courts to attempt to clear his title, suing media personalities Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee for defamation, in addition to the State Auditor of Mississippi and two journalists, together with Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Wolfe.
The Clarion Ledger stories that director Rebecca Gitlitz spent two to a few years making the movie, saying she was drawn to the story as a result of it had “a number of nuance” and “a number of issues to unpack.” Gitlitz, a two-time Emmy Award-winning director who has beforehand directed movies on controversial figures like Rudy Giuliani, advised The Clarion Ledger that she wished individuals to know “the total image” earlier than drawing their very own conclusions. The movie explores Favre’s fame in Mississippi, which was akin to athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, whereas additionally analyzing his involvement in questionable sports activities drug firms and the $1 million in talking charges he was paid for however by no means delivered.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/20/brett-favre-netflix-documentary
