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On March 4, 2008, Favre formally announced his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Don |date=March 4, 2008 |title=Favre retiring, Fox Sports reports |url=http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216044939/http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/ |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |access-date=March 4, 2008 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2008 |title=Brett Favre Set to Retire After 17 Years |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJ4dh7TkvXFMpdKZU9rITbou7jtwD8V6MH9G0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309130129/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJ4dh7TkvXFMpdKZU9rITbou7jtwD8V6MH9G0 |archive-date=March 9, 2008 |website=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="packers.com">{{Cite news |date=March 4, 2008 |title=Statement From Packers General Manager Ted Thompson |work=Packers.com |url=http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2008/03/04/1/slim/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230024306/http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2008/03/04/1/slim/ |archive-date=December 30, 2008}}</ref> Although Favre stated that he had been willing to play another year, he felt that another season would only be successful if he led his team to another [[Super Bowl]] victory. He added the chances for a Super Bowl win were small, and that he was not up for the challenge. At his press conference, Favre openly wept about leaving the NFL. He stated that his decision, regardless of what was being said in the media, had nothing to do with what the Packers did or didn't do. Seeming to contradict statements made by his agent, Bus Cook, Favre said that his decision to retire was based on the fact that he did not want to play anymore. He said during the conference, "I know I can play, but I don't think I want to. And that's really what it comes down to."<ref name=packers.com/>
On July 2, 2008, it was reported that Favre was in contact with the Packers about a possible return to the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mortensen |first=Chris |date=July 2, 2008 |title=Source: Favre has 'itch' to return; player calls it 'rumor' |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3471189 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705093427/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3471189 |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |access-date=July 2, 2008 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> On July 11, 2008, Favre sent a letter to the Packers asking for his unconditional release to allow him to play for another NFL team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mortensen |first=Chris |date=July 11, 2008 |title=Favre seeks unconditional release from Packers, sources say |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3483521 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714041711/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3483521 |archive-date=July 14, 2008 |access-date=July 11, 2008 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Packers general manager [[Ted Thompson]] announced he would not grant Favre an unconditional release and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to Aaron Rodgers as its new quarterback.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Clayton |first1=John |last2=Mortensen |first2=Chris |date=July 13, 2008 |title=Packers GM, coach say team won't release Favre despite request |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3484473 |url-status=live |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715071759/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3484473 |archive-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref>
Favre spoke publicly for the first time about his potential comeback in a July 14, 2008, interview with [[Greta Van Susteren]] on the [[Fox News Channel]]'s ''[[On the Record with Greta Van Susteren]]''. In the interview, Favre said he was "guilty of retiring early", that he was "never fully committed" to retirement, and that he was pressured by the Packers to make a decision before the [[2008 NFL draft|NFL Draft]] and the start of the [[Free agent (NFL)|free agent signing period]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 2008 |title=Favre to Fox News: Packers should let me play elsewhere |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3486775 |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080717060550/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3486775 |archive-date=July 17, 2008}}</ref> Favre disputed the notion that he does not want to play for Green Bay and said that while he understands the organization has decided to move on, they should now allow him to do the same. He made clear that he would not return to the Packers as a backup and reiterated his desire to be released rather than traded, which would allow him the freedom to play for a competitive team. Favre also accused the Packers of being dishonest, wishing the team would have been straightforward with him and the public.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 2008 |title=Favre shares his side of the story in Fox News interview |work=CNN/SI |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/07/14/favre.foxnews.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080717050026/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/07/14/favre.foxnews.ap/index.html |archive-date=July 17, 2008}}</ref>
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In the second part of the interview, which aired on July 15, Favre expressed his frustration with Packer management, spoke of his sympathy for successor Aaron Rodgers's predicament, and affirmed he is 100 percent committed to playing football in 2008.<ref name="greta">{{Cite news |date=July 15, 2008 |title=Exclusive: Brett Favre on His Packer Replacement and Playing Again |work=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,383881,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720142503/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C383881%2C00.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008}}</ref>
[[Fox Sports (USA)|FOXSports]].com's [[Jay Glazer]] reported on July 16, 2008, that the Packers filed tampering charges against the [[Minnesota Vikings]] with the league office, alleging improper communication between Vikings offensive coordinator [[Darrell Bevell]] and Favre, although one source suggested that Favre may have been in contact with Vikings head coach [[Brad Childress]].<ref name="glazer">{{Cite news |last=Glazer |first=Jay |date=July 16, 2008 |title=Source: Packers say Vikings tampered with Favre |work=FOX Sports |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8351554/Source:-Packers-say-Vikings-tampered-with-Favre |url-status=dead |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116140135/http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8351554/Source%3A-Packers-say-Vikings-tampered-with-Favre |archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>
Packers team president Mark Murphy met with Favre on July 30 in Hattiesburg,
Favre formally filed for reinstatement with the NFL on July 29, 2008, and his petition was granted by Commissioner Goodell, effective August 4, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 3, 2008 |title=Sources: Packers to open up QB job between Rodgers and Favre |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3517219 |url-status=live |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806034751/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3517219 |archive-date=August 6, 2008}}</ref> Favre then flew to Green Bay to report to Packers training camp. After a lengthy meeting with head coach [[Mike McCarthy]] and general manager Ted Thompson, however, both sides agreed it was time for Favre and the organization to part ways. McCarthy sensed Favre was not in "the right mind-set" to resume playing for the Packers, while Favre felt that his relationship with Packer management had deteriorated to the point that a return to the team would be untenable.<ref name="partways">{{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=John |date=August 5, 2008 |title=Sources: Favre has spoken to Bucs and Jets as potential trade suitors |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3520925 |url-status=live |access-date=August 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808034954/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3520925 |archive-date=August 8, 2008}}</ref>
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