Favre set to return to Packers on Monday: NFL Network

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Veteran quarterback Brett Favre has been informed he can end his temporary retirement and return to the Green Bay Packers on Monday, the NFL Network reported on Sunday.

Favre, 38, filed his reinstatement paperwork with the NFL office last week and was told by commissioner Roger Goodell on Sunday morning that his brief retirement would officially end on Monday.

"I think we have to force it," Goodell was quoted as saying. "I think it's come to the point where there needs to be some decisions made on behalf of the Packers, on behalf of Brett, on behalf of all the fans."

Favre, the league's all-time leader in touchdown passes (442) and passing yards (61,655), announced his retirement in March at a tearful news conference after leading the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC title game.

However, he had a change of heart after Green Bay decided to hand the reins of the offense over to Aaron Rodgers, Favre's understudy for the past three seasons.

"(Packers president and CEO) Mark Murphy talked to me about it in the past, how important it was for Brett to continue to be part of the organization after he was done playing," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters after team practice on Friday.

"And frankly, it's good for Brett. Brett needs to stay a part of football, Obviously, he's a part of the Green Bay Packers."

Favre, who started 275 consecutive regular season and playoff games, also broke NFL records in his final campaign for pass completions (5,377) and games with at least three touchdown passes (63).

The league's only triple Most Valuable Player, Favre led the Packers to the 1997 Super Bowl title and was named to nine Pro Bowl teams.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Akron, Ohio; Editing by John Mehaffey)