Brett Favre's spectacular stint with the Minnesota Vikings appears to be over.

Favre has informed the Vikings he will not return to Minnesota for a second season, according to multiple reports.

Favre has sent text messages to teammates saying, "This is it," league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Neither Favre nor the Vikings has confirmed the news, but a statement is expected later Tuesday, the sources said.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Tuesday that he has talked to Favre in the past 24 hours, but was unaware of the reports of Favre's apparent decision to retire.

"I'm not a big hearsay person," Childress said. "I've got to hear it from the horse's mouth."

Childress told the NFL Network that the Vikings would be prepared if Favre didn't return.

"The same plays are being installed whether [Favre] was here or the guys that are here are here," Childress said.

The Associated Press, citing an unnamed source, reported that the 40-year-old Favre called Childress to say his injured ankle is not responding as well to surgery and rehabilitation as he had hoped.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said Tuesday that he wasn't convinced that Favre was actually retiring.

"I won't believe it until I see Tarvaris Jackson starting against us," Briggs said.

Packers linebacker Nick Barnett said he didn't know whether to believe the latest news.

"It's like believing in Santa Claus. You get gifts, but you ain't seen Santa Claus," he said. "We'll see what happens ... If he does retire, congratulations. It's a well-deserved retirement. But if he does come back, we'll be gunning for him the same way."

With Favre, of course, nothing is ever necessarily final after 19 NFL seasons. He told the Vikings last year he wouldn't play, but changed his mind and joined them immediately after they broke training camp, with Childress even driving to the airport to pick him up. Camp this year ends on Aug. 12.

Favre has waffled on retiring every summer since 2006. It led to an ugly parting with the Packers that got him traded from Green Bay to the Jets in 2008. After a so-so season in New York, he announced his retirement in early 2009 for the second time, then reconsidered and signed with the Vikings.

He had one of his best seasons last year, with career bests in completion percentage (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (7), while throwing for 33 TDs and 4,202 yards to lead the Vikings to an NFC North title. He hurt his left ankle in the NFC Championship Game loss to the New Orleans Saints and had arthroscopic surgery in May.

Favre was under contract for $13 million this season, but only if he plays.

If Favre doesn't return, the Vikings' starting quarterback job likely will be decided in a training camp battle between Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

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