EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) — Even Brett Favre was amazed by what he did last season as a 40-year-old quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

In his 19th season, Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns while setting career bests for completion rate (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (seven).

Remarkable numbers at any age.

“Never in my wildest dreams when we sat here last year would I have thought I would’ve played the way I did,” Favre said Wednesday after rejoining the Vikings. “I mean, look at 18 years previous. I never played that good.”

So Brett, can you do it again?

Favre will turn 41 in October and is just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to play 20 seasons. George Blanda (26), Earl Morrall (21) and Vinny Testaverde (21) are the only QBs to play in more seasons than the gray-haired Favre.

Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record and the NFC North title, then became the first 40-year-old quarterback to win a playoff game when Minnesota thumped Dallas at the Metrodome in January.

The magical season came to a painful conclusion in the NFC title game in New Orleans, where the Vikings lost in overtime after Favre threw an interception at the end of regulation.

“I was even amazed,” Favre said. “To think that I could surpass that this year, first of all I don’t need to. Because as well as I played, by far the best of my career, it wasn’t enough. And that just goes to show you that all phases have to be hitting at the right time.

“But I need to play well obviously and be a great leader, the intangible things that I really thought would be more important last year than the statistics.”

The Vikings are betting on Favre delivering another stellar season. The team wanted him back so badly that coach Brad Childress sent Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell and Jared Allen to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Monday night to get an answer. The three veterans convinced their close friend to make one more run at the Super Bowl and put off retirement for at least one more year.