EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The last time Brett Favre played in a Super Bowl, John Elway was the opposing quarterback.
Elway has been retired so long, almost six years of dust has collected on his Hall of Fame bust. It has been 11 years this month since Elway last played for the Broncos, 12 years this week since his “Helicopter” helped defeat Favre and the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.
Favre? He’s now 40 and still playing for that next Super Bowl. If he can lead his most recent team, the Minnesota Vikings, past Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game Sunday at the Superdome, Favre can play in Super Bowl XLIV for his first chance at a world championship since Super Bowl XXXII.
“The thing with playing 19 years, like you’re saying, Elway’s being retired so long, people actually forget I’ve had success, have been in a Super Bowl,” Favre said Wednesday. “I have to remind them of that sometimes. ‘Hey, you know I played in a Super Bowl.’ And they’re like, ‘Really?’
“So I guess I’ve played so long I have to kind of rejustify that I actually was a pretty good player at one time.”
The only players still active from Super Bowl XXXII — the Broncos’ first of back-to-back world titles — are Broncos defensive lineman Trevor Pryce (now with Baltimore), Green Bay safety Darren Sharper (now with New Orleans) and Green Bay place-kicker Ryan Longwell (now with the Vikings).
Favre is the only Super Bowl XXXII starter still playing. His Packers won it all after the 1996 season, then lost in the 1997 season’s championship to the Broncos. And now, 11 years since Elway retired, Favre is one victory from going back to the big game.
“I hope the little experience I have in these games, which is more than most, will help some,” Favre said. “That’s not to say I don’t get nervous and stressed as well.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
