Brett Favre Last Season Stats: Decline Or Misunderstood Run?
Brett Favre's final NFL season in 2010 with the Minnesota Vikings featured 2,509 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and a career-low passer rating of 69.9 over 13 games.
Season Overview
In 2010, Brett Favre, then 41 years old, played his last professional season amid controversy and injury, starting 13 games for the Vikings before a concussion ended his year on December 20 against the Chicago Bears. His stats marked a sharp decline from his stellar 2009 campaign, where he threw for 4,202 yards and a 107.2 rating, leading Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game. The 2010 performance highlighted the physical toll of his ironman streak of 297 consecutive starts, which snapped that year.
Favre's Vikings finished 6-10, plagued by a weak offensive line that allowed 22 sacks, and his interception-prone play contributed to a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio. Despite flashes of vintage form, like a 446-yard, two-touchdown game against Arizona on November 7, the season underscored why he retired-for the third time-on January 17, 2011.
- Total passing yards: 2,509 (averaging 193.0 per game)
- Completions: 217 of 358 attempts (60.6% completion rate)
- Touchdowns: 11 (3.1% TD rate)
- Interceptions: 19 (5.3% INT rate)
- Passer rating: 69.9, his lowest full-season mark
- Sacks: 22 for 139 yards lost
- Rushing: Minimal, with career totals emphasizing his pocket-passer style
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Each of Favre's 13 starts in 2010 told a story of inconsistency, with high-volume passing often leading to turnovers. His season opener on September 9 at New Orleans saw 15-of-27 for 171 yards, one touchdown, and one pick in a 14-9 loss. By midseason, injuries mounted, but he pushed through until the Bears game.
- Sep 9 vs. NO: 15/27, 171 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT (L 14-9)
- Sep 19 vs. MIA: 22/36, 225 yds, 0 TD, 3 INT (L 14-10)
- Sep 26 vs. DET: 23/34, 201 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT (W 27-24)
- Oct 11 at NYJ: 14/34, 264 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT (L 24-21, infamous Jets game)
- Oct 17 vs. DAL: 14/19, 118 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT (W 24-21)
- Oct 24 at GB: 16/29, 212 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT (L 28-24)
- Oct 31 at NE: 22/32, 259 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT (L 28-18)
- Nov 7 vs. ARI: 36/47, 446 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT (W 27-24, OT)
- Nov 14 at CHI: 18/31, 170 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT (L 27-13)
- Nov 21 vs. GB: 17/38, 208 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT (L 31-3)
- Nov 28 at WAS: 15/23, 172 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT (W 17-13)
- Dec 5 vs. BUF: 0/1, 0 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT (did not start, brief appearance)
- Dec 20 vs. CHI: 5/7, 63 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT (concussion exit, L 20-14)
Full 2010 Stats Table
| Date | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/9 | NO | 15/27 | 171 | 1 | 1 | 71.7 |
| 9/19 | MIA | 22/36 | 225 | 0 | 3 | 44.3 |
| 9/26 | DET | 23/34 | 201 | 1 | 2 | 68.4 |
| 10/11 | NYJ | 14/34 | 264 | 3 | 1 | 85.9 |
| 10/17 | DAL | 14/19 | 118 | 1 | 0 | 106.9 |
| 10/24 | GB | 16/29 | 212 | 1 | 3 | 50.4 |
| 10/31 | NE | 22/32 | 259 | 0 | 1 | 80.1 |
| 11/7 | ARI | 36/47 | 446 | 2 | 2 | 101.9 |
| 11/14 | CHI | 18/31 | 170 | 1 | 3 | 44.5 |
| 11/21 | GB | 17/38 | 208 | 0 | 1 | 51.2 |
| 11/28 | WAS | 15/23 | 172 | 0 | 0 | 87.6 |
| 12/5 | BUF | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 12/20 | CHI | 5/7 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 99.1 |
| Totals | 13 GP | 217/358 | 2,509 | 11 | 19 | 69.9 |
Why the Stats Disappointed
The 2010 stats painted a tougher picture than Favre's legendary reputation suggested, with 19 interceptions nearly doubling his 11 touchdowns-a stark contrast to his career 508 TD, 336 INT ledger. Off-field scandals, including allegations involving text messages to a sideline reporter, distracted the team, while an ankle injury from Week 8 lingered, sacking him repeatedly.
"I gave it everything I had, but the body just wouldn't cooperate anymore." - Brett Favre, post-retirement press conference, January 17, 2011.
Compared to peers like Aaron Rodgers (4,038 yds, 28 TD, 11 INT) or Drew Brees (4,620 yds, 33 TD, 17 INT), Favre's output ranked 16th in passing yards per game at 193.0, per NFL records.
Career Context
Favre's 2010 swan song capped a Hall of Fame career spanning 1991-2010, mostly with the Green Bay Packers, where he set records for passing yards (71,838), completions (6,300), and starts. His Vikings stint in 2009 revived Pro Bowl form, but 2010 exposed age-related decline: yards per attempt dropped to 7.0 from a career 7.1.
- Career highs: 4,413 yds (1995), 39 TD (1996)
- Records held: Most pass attempts (10,169), most INT (336)
- Postseason: 13-11 record, 5,855 yds, 44 TD
- Hall of Fame induction: February 6, 2016
Key Performances
- November 7 vs. Arizona: 446 yards, his season high, in a 27-24 OT win.
- October 11 at Jets: 3 TDs despite loss, amid personal drama.
- October 17 vs. Cowboys: Efficient 14/19, 118 yds, game-winning drive.
- December 20 vs. Bears: Brief 99.1 rating before concussion.
These outliers showed ironman resilience, but turnovers in losses to rivals like Green Bay (two games) doomed playoff hopes.
Legacy Impact
The final season stats didn't diminish Favre's legacy as a gunslinger who revolutionized the position with gunslinger mentality, holding 71,838 career yards until surpassed by others. Inducted in 2016, he's remembered for three MVPs (1995-97) and 11 Pro Bowls, not 2010's struggles.
Analysts note the 19 picks stemmed from a battered offensive line (Vikings allowed 46 sacks total) and receivers dropping passes (completion percentage dipped late). Still, at 41, completing 60.6% under pressure was gritty.
Statistical Comparisons
| Metric | 2010 (Age 41) | 2009 | Career Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yards | 2,509 | 4,202 | 237.9/g |
| TD-INT | 11-19 | 28-7 | 1.51 ratio |
| Rating | 69.9 | 107.2 | 86.0 |
| CMP% | 60.6 | 68.4 | 62.0 |
| Sacks | 22 | 40 | 1.7/g |
The 2010 stats, though tough, cap a career of audacious play that defined an era. Favre's willingness to extend his streak into decline humanized the icon.
Everything you need to know about Brett Favre Last Season Stats Decline Or Misunderstood Run
What was Brett Favre's passer rating in 2010?
Favre posted a 69.9 passer rating in his final 2010 season, well below his career 86.0 average.
How many games did Favre play in 2010?
He appeared in 13 games, starting all but one, before retiring due to injury.
Did Favre lead the NFL in any 2010 category?
No, but his 19 interceptions ranked high among qualifiers, reflecting risk-taking at age 41.
Compared to 2009 Vikings stats?
2009: 4,202 yds, 28 TD, 7 INT, 107.2 rating in 16 games; 2010 was half the production.
Why so many interceptions in 2010?
Nineteen picks resulted from forced throws, poor protection (22 sacks), and declining arm strength, per film review.
Best game of Favre's last season?
November 7 vs. Arizona: 36/47, 446 yards, 2 TD in OT victory.