Brett Favre Used Welfare Funds for New Volleyball Stadium, Wrangler Jeans

By Clay Beyersdorfer

A new report says former NFL quarterback Brett Favre obtained welfare funds to build a new volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played the sport, along with 37 pairs of Wrangler jeans.

Text messages obtained by Mississippi Today revealed that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped Favre funnel at least $5 million in welfare funds to USM, as well as an additional $2,590 for the Wranglers.

The texts were filed in court by the attorney representing Mississippi Community Education Center founder Nancy New, who has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud, and racketeering.

“If you were to pay me is there any way the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre said to New in a 2017 text message. “Also, do you think boot cut or cowboy cut is more my style?”

New told Favre that “we never have that information publicized” and then said Bryant was on board with the plan. 

“Also, you’re definitely a cowboy-cut kind of guy,” she added.

Another text shows Bryant met with Favre in July 2019, where he asked New to help Favre with his volleyball stadium project but only after they visited the Wrangler store at the outlet mall nearby.

An audit by the state auditor's office concludes nonprofit leaders like New misappropriated welfare funds to the tune of at least $77 million. This case may be the largest public fraud in the history of Mississippi.

According to Holmes, Favre was unaware of receiving welfare funds and denied discussing the project with Bryant.

“Brett Favre has been honorable throughout this whole thing,” Holmes told End of the Bench when reached for comment. “Besides, everyone knows Brett’s had the same two pairs of Wrangler jeans for years. He doesn’t need welfare money to help him buy more Wrangler jeans.”

End of the Bench will have more as this story develops.