Brett Favre on departure from Packers: 'It was like leaving family'

It's been a long road to July 18 for Brett Favre.

That's when the Green Bay Packers plan to induct him into their Hall of Fame, a moment that looked like it may never become a reality. Favre's 2008 departure from the team was rocky, and he's just thankful to receive the honor.

"This is kind of a culmination of, in my opinion, a wonderful career and one in which I wouldn't change anything," Favre told Rob Demovsky from ESPN. "The fans have, by selling it out and just the excitement that I've felt and seen and heard from the fans is more than I could've ever dreamed of."

Favre retired following the 2007 campaign, only to reconsider later that year. However, the Packers had already turned to Aaron Rodgers and weren't interested in a reunion with Favre.

Green Bay ultimately dealt him to the New York Jets and Favre ended up playing another three seasons, two of those behind center for the division rival Minnesota Vikings.

Favre added the thing he missed the most about Green Bay was not football, but the people.

"That was probably the hardest thing," Favre noted. "It wasn't so much the football - and I will address that, too, when I talk to the crowd - it's more about the people, and I truly mean that. When I left, it was like leaving family and never knowing if you're going to be back."

If there's any doubt the Packers hold no ill will towards Favre, look no further than the 67,000 people that sold out Lambeau Field to watch his ceremony on the video board. Favre also has no hard feelings.

"No. Not at all," he said. "There's no hangover. In fact, I don't know how much visiting I'm going to get to do, probably not much, but I look forward to seeing a lot of faces that I haven't seen in quite a while."