Brett Favre, the all-time leader in turnovers in NFL history, continues to miscue in his retirement. Favre’s participation in the alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars intended for Mississippi residents in the form of welfare funds is potentially the most fraudulent case in the state’s history.

In 1995, Brett and Deanna Favre founded the Favre 4 Hope Foundation, initially dubbed the Brett L. Favre Foundation.

They raise money by hosting annual golf tournaments, dinners and auctions in Green Bay to provide financial assistance to agencies that provide services to underserved and disabled children in Mississippi and Wisconsin, where Favre was the town’s heroic figure for 16 years with the Packers.

Fast forward to 2018. An accounting firm in a Maryland audit discovered that more than $77 million were improperly used from the state’s welfare program through nonprofits.

The 104-page audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services released shows how federal welfare grant funds flowed from the Department of Human Services into two nonprofits, frequently spending the cash in unsuitable or cynical ways.

Tax records show that Favre 4 Hope gave the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation $60,000 in 2018. Two years later, while his daughter was playing for the USM volleyball team, Favre played a crucial role in directing more than $5 million in welfare funds into the construction of the volleyball facility.

“It’s always upsetting to hear about cases where funds are being diverted from those who most need them,” DePaul’s director of gift processing Karin Carrero said regarding the mishandling of welfare funds. “As someone who works in a university setting, my first thought when I read about this scandal is to question USM’s involvement and perhaps how they could have played a role in preventing the misappropriation of funds,” she said.

In a statement, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White said the report “shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor.” He added, “If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it.”

Danielle Vance-McMullen, an expert in donor behavior, fundraising and nonprofit competition said, “The Favre 4 Hope Foundation raises funds from the public and so is accountable to those donors for its spending.” “Donors gave money with the understanding that it would be used for underserved children, disabled children, and breast cancer patients. The organization has an obligation, ethically and likely also legally, to use those funds for their intended purposes.”

The Hall of Fame Quarterback made $137.8 million in his NFL career spanning over 20 years with four teams, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

In his 16 years with Green Bay, he never earned an annual salary of over $12 million. With Minnesota, where he led the Vikings to a Conference Championship game in his first season with the team, he made $30 million with a $4 million bonus over two years.

According to the U.S. Census, almost 20% of Mississippi residents live at or below the poverty line, which is the worst rate in the nation.

“Honestly, I thought Favre was a great guy and wanted to give back to the community,” said Isabella Hansen, a DePaul junior and a die-hard Vikings fan from Minnesota. “Minnesotans were proud to say he played for them. He would do meet and greets with kids I know and would often meet with Make-A-Wish kids. That’s what makes this scandal sad.”

According to text messages presented in the state’s ongoing civil action over the welfare fraud, former governor Phil Bryant aimed to make NFL legend Brett Favre’s volleyball proposal a reality.

Bryant texted Nancy New, the founder of the nonprofit organizations Nonprofits Mississippi Community Education Center and Families First for Mississippi in July 2019.

“Can we aid him in completing his project? Gov. Bryant said in a text to Nancy New.” We should get together soon to discuss how I can make sure that your initiatives stay on track.”

Nancy New’s nonprofit oversees spending tens of millions of flexible federal welfare dollars outside public view.

Nancy and her son Zach New have admitted guilt to state and federal charges for their roles in the volleyball project and the many other unethical spendings of federal welfare money.

Bryant also contacted Favre via text, showing persistence that the transfer of funds would go through and Favre would get his inquiries resolved.

“We are not taking No for an answer!” Bryant said to Favre over text. “You are a Southern Miss Alumni, and folks need to know you are also a supporter of the University.”

Favre’s fate has yet to be determined as the investigation ensues. Five of the six detained people admitted guilt in their role. Favre has rejected both criminal charges and wrongdoing.

“I think media attention on Favre is appropriate, but more attention needs to be paid to the systems in place that allowed for the misappropriation of funds to occur and how a situation like this could be avoided in the future,” Carrero said.