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Could Brett Favre still play in the NFL at age 45? He seems to think so

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre celebrates a touchdown pass during a divisional playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 17, 2010.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre celebrates a touchdown pass during a divisional playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 17, 2010.

(Craig Lassig / EPA)
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Herschel Walker isn’t the only retired football star who thinks he could still play in the NFL.

It has been more than four years since Brett Favre retired from football, but the 45-year-old is confident he could still play for an NFL team today.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the former Green Bay Packers great said he could still be an NFL quarterback, provided he had a stellar offensive line around him that would allow to focus primarily on passing.

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“I think I could play,” Favre said. “As far as throwing. Of course, we’re not trying to start some he’s-coming-out-of-retirement deal.

“Do I think I could play and lead a team? Look, no. But I could play,” Favre continued. “I could make all the throws I made before, I just couldn’t throw it near as far, but that never matters anyway.”

Although Favre said he can still throw a football 50 yards, it seems his playing days are definitely behind him. A year away from eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Favre probably wouldn’t be an option for even the most quarterback-starved of general managers.

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Favre, who retired in 2011 after two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, holds the NFL career records in passing yards (71,838), pass completions (6,300) and pass attempts (10,169). He played 16 of his 19 NFL seasons with the Packers, which he led to victory in Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.

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