Brett Favre breaks silence after revealing his illness: He thanks fans for their unconditional

NFL legend Brett Favre is expressing his heartfelt gratitude to fans after the bombshell announcement of his Parkinson's diagnosis this week. In a heartfelt Instagram video, the Green Bay Packers icon thanked his ers, calling the outpouring of love "unbelievable."

"Wow, what an overwhelming amount of from you all," Favre said, clearly moved by the reaction. "Thank you, and this is just the beginning of another mountain to climb."

The Hall of Famer, who revealed his diagnosis while testifying at a welfare reform hearing on Capitol Hill, hopes his revelation will shed light on the link between head trauma and Parkinson's disease, particularly for those who may not yet know they're at risk.

"There's a lot of people out there with it," Favre shared. "Some know it, some don't. It can happen to anyone at any time."

Football is the prime suspect

Favre, whose long football career earned him a Super Bowl championship with the Packers in 1997, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in early January after consulting five specialists. All pointed to his years on the field as the likely cause.

"They all said the same thing," he explained. "If it's not in your family, then the first thing we look at is head trauma. Well, hell, I wrote the book on head trauma."

Reflecting on his journey to diagnosis, Favre recalled first noticing troubling symptoms when his arm would "get stuck" while putting on a shirt or using tools around the house. Despite his strength, he found himself unable to properly guide his arm-an alarming and frustrating experience for the former quarterback.

Favre s the search for a cure

At the Congressional hearing, Favre also expressed regret over losing an investment in a concussion drug he believed could have helped others avoid similar fates. "Sadly, it's too late for me, but this is a cause dear to my heart," he said.

While the news is devastating, Favre's courage in confronting the illness head-on and advocating for greater awareness serves as a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges. Fans continue to rally behind him, offering love and as he embarks on this new battle.