Green Bay, Wis. ? With subzero temperatures descending and a hated division rival playing in the Super Bowl, Green Bay Packers fans received an unexpected jolt of good news Friday.

Brett Favre is back.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the three-time MVP called him to say he was “going to give it another shot” and return for his 17th NFL season – thus bringing his now-annual flirtation with retirement to an end far earlier than he had in the previous two offseasons.

“I am so excited about coming back,” the 37-year-old quarterback said Friday on the Web site of the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. “We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year, and that’s encouraging.”

Thompson said Favre knew it was better for the team to make a decision earlier than later.

“There were fewer uncertainties going into this offseason,” Thompson said. “Last year there was a coaching change and other things that I think they had to work through, but you’ll have to ask him specifically about that. But all along, I mean, he’s a football guy, he’s a coach’s son, so he understands a football team.”

Thompson said Favre didn’t give him a specific reason why he was returning, but Thompson figured it was a sign that he is happy with the direction the team is headed.