Brett Favre returned to a familiar script on
April 21, 1991, during an anxious afternoon at his
parents’ home in rural Hancock County.
Projected as the top quarterback prospect by
numerous NFL scouts, Favre wasn’t selected until
the second round when the Atlanta Falcons made
the record-setting Southern Mississippi player the
third quarterback chosen.
Virtually ignored by Division I schools after an
outstanding prep career at Hancock North Central,
Favre again found himself underrated by the
experts as the Seattle Seahawks made San Diego
State quarterback Dan McGwire the first quarterback
chosen (with the 16th pick in the first round.)
The Los Angeles Raiders shocked the experts
by taking troubled Southern Cal quarterback
Todd Marinovich with their first-round pick (24th
overall).
“In my opinion, I’m going in here as an
underdog,” Favre said. “I was passed up twice by
Atlanta in the first round, 25 times by other teams. Two quarterbacks went ahead of me.
“One of them (Marinovich) didn’t even know
if he was going to be in the draft this year. Now
he goes ahead of me. It’s like coming out of high
school. I was passed up and I proved myself. Now
I’ve got to do it again. I’m not going in as a big star.”
Favre, who gathered with family, friends and
media, finally got the call at 4:30 p.m., five-andhalf
hourse after the draft began.
The Falcons made him the 33rd pick overall.