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Untold: The Fall of Favre

October 21, 2025·1 hr 21 min·5 clips

Jen Sturger opens a text during playoff baseball to find a dick pic from Brett Favre—a man she's never even met.

This episode of True Crime Obsessed covers the Netflix sports documentary "Untold: The Fall of Favre," examining the career and controversies of NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Hosts Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle, known for their comedic and critical deep dives into true crime and documentary storytelling, apply their signature style to this sports scandal. They frame the episode around the consequences of extreme hero worship and the systems that enable misconduct. The documentary details Favre's rise from a 17-year-old prodigy at the University of Southern Mississippi to a legendary quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. It covers his pivotal 1992 debut where he replaced an injured starter and began a winning streak that ended the team's 20-year slump. The film highlights his career peak, including throwing the longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history during the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI victory. A significant portion explores the allegations that Favre sent lewd texts and photos to New York Jets sideline reporter Jen Sterger, who first gained fame as the "Cowgirl" co-ed after being televised at a 2005 Florida State football game. The episode also notes the documentary's inclusion of former NFL player Michael Vick, who faced his own scandal, offering commentary on Favre's situation. Pensavalle and Hinds express bafflement that immense talent often coexists with personal misconduct, comparing Favre to other fallen stars like O.J. Simpson. They critique the documentary's use of Michael Vick, recalling his statement that "everybody robs banks and goes to jail" as a deflection from taking full ownership of past actions. The hosts dissect how Favre was treated as a "football god" from a young age, which they argue created a lack of accountability. They point out the irony of Favre's name being consistently mispronounced, even at his own NFL draft, as a minor symbol of his curated persona. A memorable tangent involves the hosts' shared appreciation for a viral video of a woman from Wisconsin ranting about Bath & Body Works candles. The conversation critiques the sports journalism ecosystem, citing writer Peter King's account of being invited to regular dinners with Favre as a potential ethical conflict. Hinds and Pensavalle empathize with Jen Sterger's experience, noting she was objectified by announcers like Brent Musburger yet strategically leveraged her fame into a media career. They argue the system is designed to fail women, prioritizing the protection and profit generated by male stars. The tone is conversational, analytical, and laced with sarcastic humor, as the hosts freely associate personal anecdotes with the documentary's themes. Their style is openly critical of the sports industry's power structures while maintaining a relatable, fan-to-fan perspective. Listeners who enjoy cultural criticism of fame, power, and institutional failure wrapped in lively banter will love this episode. Fans of the hosts' specific dynamic of deep-dive recaps with comedic tangents will find it particularly engaging. Those seeking a straightforward, reverent sports analysis or who are sensitive to critiques of sports fandom might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A brisk look at sports worship and the people it rewards.

The episode tracks Brett Favre from Packers glory into the familiar zone where hero worship starts to cover for uglier behavior. It keeps circling the same pressure point: fame gives everyone in the circle something to gain, which makes the myth harder to let go.

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Why you'd press play

You want a fast, mean, funny look at what sports hero worship does to a person, with Brett Favre at the center.

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