Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell announced today that Brett Favre of the NFL Football Green Bay Packers is the 2007 Sportsman of the Year, an honor bestowed upon the athlete who best symbolizes, in character and performance the ideals of sportsmanship. The sterling silver trophy,crafted by Tiffany & Co. will be presented to Favre at a party held in his honor in New York City tonight. McDonell stated, "Brett is a great winner, but this award recognizes much more than winning.  It recognizes performance off the field equally and celebrates the love of the game. Brett is having an astounding year on every level."

Favre has the most wins of any football quarterback ever and he is the NFL's leader in touchdown passes. He has started 249 consecutive games, the longest string of football games by any NFL quarterback. This is his 16th year with the Green Bay Packers, which ties him with Bart Starr for the most seasons in a Green Bay Packers uniform.  He has also broken Dan Marino's career records for touchdown passes and pass attempts. Favre should also soon surpass Dan Marino's career record passing yards. Marino had 61,361 and Favre currently has 60,912.

Brett Favre has established the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, which has donated $4 million to charitable causes in Wisconsin and his native Mississippi, where $1 million alone was raised to assist Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties after Hurricane Katrina.