updated 3:38 p.m. ET March 4, 2008

Brett Favre decided to call it a career after 17 seasons, Tuesday, and not surprisingly, several people from around the NFL wanted to share their thoughts on the three-time MVP and Super Bowl champion.

"I was surprised because a year ago I thought he might retire. Over the years we’ve talked about this and he always said as long as he had a good team around him and a chance to win and no injuries, he would play. He came off a good team that had a good year, he had no injuries so I felt he would be back this year. I was more surprised this year than I would have been had he retired a year ago. People would ask me what I thought he’d do and I said he’d be back." -- John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and NBC analyst

"His style of play was as unique as it was effective. I admired his skills, his leadership, and especially his love for playing the game. You knew he was having fun when he played, and that made him fun to watch. He set the standard at the position for a long time." -- Tony Romo, Cowboys quarterback

“I know I can still play, but it’s like I told my wife, I’m just tired mentally. I’m just tired.” -- Brett Favre

“Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door, but then nobody encouraged him not to go out that door, either.” -- Bus Cook, Favre's agent

“He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms — not many players are able to do that.” -- Packers GM Ted Thompson

“If I felt like coming back — and Deanna (Favre’s wife) and I talked about this — the only way for me to be successful would be to win a Super Bowl. To go to the Super Bowl and lose, would almost be worse than anything else. Anything less than a Super Bowl win would be unsuccessful.” -- Brett Favre

“As the season gets closer, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he changes his mind.” -- Troy Aikman, Hall of Fame quarter back and TV analyst

“For 16 years, Brett Favre brought fun and excitement to Lambeau Field. His talent, energy and enthusiasm for the game will be missed.” -- Jim Doyle, Wisconsin Governor

“He was the prototypical gun-slinger type. He’s the type of guy where, ’Oh, what’s he throwing into that crowd for?’ But he had intuition, toughness, resilience.” -- Marv Levy, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach

Favre joins Vikings AP file   Video: Vikings are ‘the perfect fit,’ Favre says   Video: ‘I didn’t want to say ‘What if’ ’ Curran: Win-win for Favre and Vikings Celizic: Worst flip-flopper in sports history Newsweek: Let's give Favre a break Live vote: How will Vikings do with Favre Live vote: Does this hurt Favre's legacy? Packers not shocked by Favre's move   Slide show: Tracking QBs who couldn't quit Timeline of Favre's career  |    Slide show Fantasy impact: Favre not a huge get Vote: Top star in Minnesota sports history?

“The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. The uniqueness of Brett Favre his personality, charisma and love of the game — undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history.” -- Ted Thompson, Packers GM

"What he has meant to Green Bay and that franchise and to the fans in Green Bay has been a tremendous rallying point throughout the 16 years he played there. He’s brought them a Super Bowl victory, he brought them to another appearance in the Super Bowl and brought them to the NFC Championship Game this year." -- Tom Coughlin, Giants coach

"I think this announcement comes about 17 years too late and I don’t know if I will completely believe it until Green Bay opens the season without No. 4 lining up under center. In all seriousness, no one has given more to our game than Brett Favre. There is no player I respect more. He is one of the all-time greats to ever play in the NFL." -- Lovie Smith, Bears coach

"He said it was time for him to hang up the cleats. He's mentally tired, with all the little things that go into everyday preparation." -- Mike McCarthy, Packers coach

"His accomplishments are legendary, and it's the passion with which he played that made everyone a Brett Favre fan." -- Ted Thompson, Packers GM

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

"I was surprised when I heard it this morning. He played with such a great passion. He must have figured he no longer had that passion, and it was time to get out." -- Ron Wolf, former Packers GM

"The first impression I had (of Brett Favre) was through a friend, a guard named Rich Moran who was from my hometown and played for the Packers. Rich went to high school with my son and I knew him and his dad. I talked to Rich and he said, 'This guy Favre, he acts like an offensive lineman.' I guess they were at a bar one night, all these offensive linemen and Brett and a little rumble started with a group of guys. And this guy comes diving over everybody to punch the guy and it was the quarterback, Brett Favre. So that was the first thing I heard about Brett Favre and that was the lasting impression of him is that he’ll jump over linemen to get a punch in." -- John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and NBC analyst

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