NFL legend Brett Favre reveals Parkinson's diagnosis at congressional hearing in US

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has revealed he has Parkinson's disease.

Favre, a Super Bowl winner with the Packers in 1997, told a congressional hearing in an ongoing welfare fraud case that he was recently diagnosed with the illness.

Mississippi Department of Human Services named Favre in a civil lawsuit last year for the the misuse of federal welfare funds.

Favre, who has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged, is being pursued for $727,000 in interest from the Mississippi state auditor.

The 54-year-old told the hearing that he had been a major investor in a now defunct drug company.

Favre said: "Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others.

"I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, this is also a cause dear to my heart."

Favre spent 16 seasons with the Packers until 2007 when he was traded to the New York Jets and spent his final two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

He is the only player to win three successive NFL Most Valuable Player awards, from 1995 to 1997.